Competitive assays for determining the effectiveness of a human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) antiviral agent, employing peptides and proteins of HIV-2

ABSTRACT

A method for diagnosing an HIV-2 (LAV-II) infection and a kit containing reagents for the same is disclosed. These reagents include cDNA probes which are capable of hybridizing to at least a portion of the genome of HIV-2. In one embodiment, the DNA probes are capable of hybridizing to the entire genome of HIV-2. These reagents also include polypeptides encoded by some of these DNA sequences.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 07/752,368, filed Sep. 3, 1991, which is a division of application Ser. No. 013,477, filed Feb. 11, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,342, issued Jan. 7, 1992, which is continuation-in-part of allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/003,764 of Alizon et al. for "Cloned DNA Sequences Related to the Entire Genomic RNA of Human Immunodeficiency Virus II (HIV-2), Polypeptides Encoded by these DNA Sequences and Use of these DNA Clones and Polypeptides in Diagnostic Kits," filed Jan. 16, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,496, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 06/933,184 filed Nov. 21, 1986, now abandoned in favor of continuation application Ser. No. 604,323, filed Oct. 24, 1990, now abandoned in favor of continuation application Ser. No. 732,748, filed Jul. 18, 1991 (pending) which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 916,080 of Montagnier et al. for "Cloned DNA Sequences Related to the Genomic RNA of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus II (HIV-2), Poly-peptides Encoded by these DNA Sequences and Use of these DNA Clones and Polypeptides in Diagnostic Kits," filed Oct. 6, 1986, now abandoned in favor of continuation application Ser. No. 602,383, filed Oct. 24, 1990 (now abandoned), and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 835,228 of Montagnier et al. for "New Retrovirus Capable of Causing AIDS, Antigens Obtained from this Retrovirus and Corresponding Antibodies and their Application for Diagnostic Purposes," filed Mar. 3, 1986 (now U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,288, issued Jun. 13, 1989). The disclosures of each of these predecessor applications are expressly -incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates to cloned DNA sequences analogous to the genomic RNA of a virus known as Lymphadenopathy-Associated Virus II ("LAV-II"), a process for the preparation of these cloned DNA sequences, and their use as probes in diagnostic kits. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a cloned DNA sequence analogous to the entire genomic RNA of HIV-2 and its use as a probe. The invention also relates to polypeptides with amino acid sequences encoded by these cloned DNA sequences and the use of these polypeptides in diagnostic kits.

According to recently adopted nomenclature, as reported in Nature, May 1986, a substantially-identical group of retroviruses which has been identified as one causative agent of AIDS are now referred to as Human Immunodeficiency Viruses I (HIV-1). This previously-described group of retroviruses includes Lymphadenopathy-Associated Virus I (LAV-I), Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus-III (HTLV-III), and AIDS-Related Virus (ARV).

Lymphadenopathy-Associated Virus II has been described in U.S. application Ser. No. 835,228, which was filed Mar. 3, 1986, and is specifically incorporated herein by reference. Because LAV-II is a second, distinct causative agent of AIDS, LAV-II properly is classifiable as a Human Immunodeficiency Virus II (HIV-2). Therefore, "LAV-II" as used hereinafter describes a particular genus of HIV-2 isolates.

While HIV-2 is related to HIV-1 by its morphology, its tropism and its in vitro cytopathic effect on CD4 (T4) positive cell lines and lymphocytes, HIV-2 differs from previously described human retroviruses known to be responsible for AIDS. Moreover, the proteins of HIV-1 and 2 have different sizes and their serological cross-reactivity is restricted mostly to the major core protein, as the envelope glycoproteins of HIV-2 are not immune precipitated by HIV-l-positive sera except in some cases where very faint cross-reactivity can be detected. Since a significant proportion of the HIV infected patients lack antibodies to the major core protein of their infecting virus, it is important to include antigens to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in an effective serum test for the diagnosis of the infection by these viruses.

HIV-2 was first discovered in the course of serological research on patients native to Guinea-Bissau who exhibited clinical and immunological symptoms of AIDS and from whom sero-negative or weakly sero-positive reactions to tests using an HIV-1 lysate were obtained. Further clinical studies on these patients isolated viruses which were subsequently named "LAV-II."One LAV-II isolate, subsequently referred to as LAV-II MIR, was deposited at the Collection Nationale des Cultures de Micro-Organismes (CNCM) at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France on Dec. 19, 1985 under Accession No. I-502 and has also been deposited at the British ECA CC under No. 87.001.001 on Jan. 9, 1987. A second LAV-II isolate was deposited at CNCM on Feb. 21, 1986 under Accession No. I-532 and has also been deposited at the British ECA CC under No. 87.001.002 on Jan. 9, 1987. This second isolate has been subsequently referred to as LAV-II ROD. Other isolates deposited at the CNCM on Dec. 19, 1986 are HIV-2 IRMO (No. I-642) and HIV-2 EHO (No. I-643). Several additional isolates have been obtained from West African patients, some of whom have AIDS, others with AIDS-related conditions and others with no AIDS symptoms. All of these viruses have been isolated on normal human lymphocyte cultures and some of them were thereafter propagated on lymphoid tumor cell lines such as CEM and MOLT.

Due to the sero-negative or weak sero-positive results obtained when using kits designed to identify HIV-1 infections in the diagnosis of these new patients with HIV-2 disease, it has been necessary to devise a new diagnostic kit capable of detecting HIV-2 infection, either by itself or in combination with an HIV-1 infection. The present inventors have, through the development of cloned DNA sequences analogous to at least a portion of the genomic RNA of LAV-II ROD viruses, created the materials necessary for the development of such kits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As noted previously, the present invention relates to the cloned nucleotide sequences homologous or identical to at least a portion of the genomic RNA of HIV-2 viruses and to polypeptides encoded by the same. The present invention also relates to kits capable of diagnosing an HIV-2 infection.

Thus, a main object of the present invention is to provide a kit capable of diagnosing an infection caused by the HIV-2 virus. This kit may operate by detecting at least a portion of the RNA genome of the HIV-2 virus or the provirus present in the infected cells through hybridization with a DNA probe or it may operate through the immunodiagnostic detection of polypeptides unique to the HIV-2 virus.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To achieve these objects and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, cloned DNA sequences related to the entire genomic RNA of the LAV-II virus are set forth. These sequences are analogous specifically to the entire genome of the LAV-II ROD strain.

To further achieve the objects and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, a kit capable of diagnosing an HIV-2 infection is described. This kit, in one embodiment, contains the cloned DNA sequences of this invention which are capable of hybridizing to viral RNA or analogous DNA sequences to indicate the presence of an HIV-2 infection. Different diagnostic techniques can be used which include, but are not limited to: (1) Southern blot procedures to identify viral DNA which may or may not be digested with restriction enzymes; (2) Northern blot techniques to identify viral RNA extracted from cells; and (3) dot blot techniques, i.e., direct filtration of the sample through an ad hoc membrane such as nitrocellulose or nylon without previous separation on agarose gel. Suitable material for dot blot technique could be obtained from body fluids including, but not limited to, serum and plasma, supernatants from culture cells, or cytoplasmic extracts obtained after cell lysis and removal of membranes and nuclei of the cells by ultra-centrifugation as accomplished in the "CYTODOT" procedure as described in a booklet published by Schleicher and Schull.

In an alternate embodiment, the kit contains the polypeptides created using these cloned DNA sequences. These polypeptides are capable of reacting with antibodies to the HIV-2 virus present in sera of infected individuals, thus yielding an immunodiagnostic complex.

In accordance with a further object of the present invention, a peptide is provided as described above, either along or conjugated to a carrier molecule, the peptide being capable of eliciting the production of an antibody to the peptide, and said antibody is capable of forming an effective immunocomplex with the entire HIV-2 retrovirus or with its corresponding proteins.

To further achieve the objects of the invention, a vaccinating agent is provided which comprises at least one peptide selected from the polypeptide expression products of the viral DNA in admixture with suitable carriers, adjuvents stabilizers.

It is understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 generally depicts the nucleotide sequence of a cloned complementary DNA (cDNA) to the genomic RNA of HIV-2. FIG. 1A depicts the genetic organization of HIV-1, position of the HIV-1 HindII fragment used as a probe to screen the cDNA library, and restriction map of the HIV-2 cDNA clone, E2. FIG. 1B depicts the nucleotide sequence of the 3' end of HIV-2. The corresponding region of the HIV-1 LTR was aligned using the Wilbur and Lipman algorithm (window: 10; K-tuple: 7; gap penalty: 3) as described by Wilbur and Lipman in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80: 726-730 (1983), specifically incorporated herein by reference. The U3-R junction in HIV-1 is indicated and the poly A addition signal and potential TATA promoter regions are boxed. In FIG. 1B, the symbols B, H, Ps and Pv refer to the restriction sites BamHI, HindIII, PstI and PvuII, respectively.

FIG. 2 generally depicts the HIV-2 specificity of the E2 clone. FIGS. 2A and B are lines drawing representing Southern blots of DNA extracted from CEM cells infected with the following isolates: HIV-2_(ROD) (a,c), HIV-2_(DUL) (b,d), and HIV-1_(BRU) (e.f). DNA in lanes a,b,f was Pst I digested; in c,d,e DNA was undigested. FIGS. 2C and D are line drawing representing dot blot hybridization of pelleted virions from CEM cells infected by the HIV-1_(BRU) (1), Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) isolate Mm 142-83 (3), HIV-2_(DUL) (4), HIV-2_(ROD) (5), and HIV-1_(ELI) (6). Dot 2 is a pellet from an equivalent volume of supernatant from uninfected CEM. Thus, FIGS. 2A and C depict hybridization with the HIV-2 cDNA (E2) and FIGS. 2B and D depict hybridization to an HIV-1 probe consisting of a 9 Kb SacI insert from HIV-1 BRU(clone lambda J 19).

FIG. 3 generally depicts a restriction map of the HIV-2 ROD genome and its homology to HIV-1. FIG. 3A specifically depicts the organization of three recombinant phage lambda clones, ROD 4, ROD 27, and ROD 35. In FIG. 3A, the open boxes represent viral sequences, the LTR are filled, and the dotted boxes represent cellular flanking sequences (not mapped). Only some characteristic restriction enzyme sites are indicated. λROD 27 and λROD 35 are derived from integrated proviruses while λROD 4 is derived from a circular viral DNA. The portion of the lambda clones that hybridzes to the cDNA E2 is indicated below the maps. A restriction map of the λROD isolate was reconstructed from these three lambda clones. In this map, the restriction sites are identified as follows: B: BamHI; E: EcoRI; H: HindIII; K: KpnI; Ps: PstI; Pv: PvuII; S: SacI; X: XbaI. R and L are the right and left BamHI arms of the lambda L47.1 vector.

FIG. 3B specifically depicts dots 1-11 which correspond to the single-stranded DNA form of M13 subclones from the HIV-1_(BRU) cloned genome (λJ19). Their size and position on the HIV-1 genome, determined by sequencing is shown below the figure. Dot 12 is a control containing lambda phage DNA. The dot-blot was hybridized in low stringency conditions as described in Example 1 with the complete lambda λROD 4 clone as a probe, and successively washed in 2× SSC, 0.1% SDS at 25° C. (Tm -42° C.), 4× SSC, 0.1% SDS at 60° C. (Tm -20° C.), and 0.1× SSC, 0.1% SDS at 60° C. (Tm -3° C.) and exposed overnight. A duplicate dot blot was hybridized and washed in stringent conditions (as described in Example 2) with the labelled lambda J19 clone carrying the complete HIV-1_(BRU) genome. HIV-1 and HIV-2 probes were labelled the same specific activity (10⁸ cpm/g.).

FIG. 4 generally depicts the restriction map polymorphism in different HIV-2 isolates and shows comparison of HIV-2 to SIV. FIG. 4A is a line drawing depicting DNA (20 μg. per lane) from CEM cells infected by the isolate HIV-2_(DUL) (panel 1) or peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) infected by the isolates HIV-2_(GOM) (panel 2) and HIV-2_(MIR) (panel 3) digested with: EcoRI (a), PstI (b), and HindIII (c). Much less viral DNA was obtained with HIV-2 isolates propagated on PBL. Hybridization and washing were in stringent conditions, as described in Example 2, with 10⁶ cpm/ml. of each of the E2 insert (cDNA) and the 5 kb. HindIII fragment of λROD 4, labelled to 10⁹ cpm/μg.

FIG. 4B is a line drawing depicting DNA from HUT 78 (a human T lymphoid cell line) cells infected with STLV3 MAC isolate Mm 142-83. The same amounts of DNA and enzymes were used as indicated in panel A. Hybridization was performed with the same probe as in A, but in non-stringent conditions. As described in Example 1 washing was for one hour in 2× SSC, 0.1% SDS at 40° C. (panel 1) and after exposure, the same filter was re-washed in 0.1× SSC, 0.1% SDS at 60° C. (panel 2). The autoradiographs were obtained after overnight exposition with intensifying screens.

FIG. 5 depicts the position of derived plasmids from λROD 27, λROD 35 and λROD 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, which, together with the following examples, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

The genetic structure of the HIV-2 virus has been analyzed by molecular cloning according to the method set forth herein and in the Examples. A restriction map of the genome of this virus is included in FIG. 5. In addition, the partial sequence of a CDNA complementary to the genomic RNA of the virus has been determined. This cDNA sequence information is included in FIG. 1.

Also contained herein is data describing the molecular cloning of the complete 9.5 kb genome of HIV-2, data describing the observation of restriction map polymorphism between different isolates, and an analysis of the relationship between HIV-2 and other human and simian retroviruses. From the totality of these data, diagnostic probes can be discerned and prepared.

Generally, to practice one embodiment of the present invention, a series of filter hybridizations of the HIV-2 RNA genome with probes derived from the complete cloned HIV-1 genome and from the gag and pol genes were conducted. These hybridizations yielded only extremely weak signals even in conditions of very low stringency of hydridization and washing. Thus, it was found to be difficult to assess the amount of HIV-2 viral and proviral DNA in infected cells by Southern blot techniques.

Therefore, a complementary DNA (cDNA) to the HIV-2 genomic RNA initially was cloned in order to provide a specific hybridization probe. To construct this cDNA, an oligo (dT) probed cDNA first-strand was made in a detergent-activated endogenous reaction using HIV-2 reverse transcriptase with virions purified from supernatants of infected CEM cells. The CEM cell line is a lymphoblastoid CD4+ cell line described by G. E. Foley et al. in Cancer 18: 522-529 (1965), specifically incorporated herein by reference. The CEM cells used were infected with the isolate ROD and were continuously producing high amounts of HIV-2.

After second-strand synthesis, the cDNAs were inserted into the M 13 tg 130 bacteriophage vector. A collection of 10⁴ M13 recombinant phages was obtained and screened in situ with an HIV-1 probe spanning 1.5 kb. of the 3' end of the LAVBRU isolate (depicted in FIG. 1A). Some 50 positive plaques were detected, purified, and characterized by end sequencing and cross-hybridizing the inserts. This procedure is described in more detail in Example 1 and in FIG. 1.

The different clones were found to be complementary to the 3' end of a polyadenylated RNA having the AATAAA signal about 20 nucleotides upstream of the poly A tail, as found in the long terminal repeat (LTR) of HIV-1. The LTR region of HIV-1 has been described by S. Wain Hobson et al. in Cell 40: 9-17 (1985), specifically incorporated herein by reference. The portion of the HIV-2 LTR that was sequenced was related only distantly to the homologous domain in HIV-1 as demonstrated in FIG. 1B. Indeed, only about 50% of the nucleotides could be aligned and about a hundred insertions/deletions need to be introduced in comparison, the homology of the corresponding domains in HIV-1 isolates from USA and Africa is greater than 95% and no insertions or deletions are seen.

The largest insert of this group of M13 clones was a 2 kb. clone designated E2. Clone E2 was used as a probe to demonstrate its HIV-2 specificity in a series of filter hybridization experiments. Firstly, this probe could detect the genomic RNA of HIV-2 but not HIV-1 in stringent conditions as shown in FIGS. 2, C and D. Secondly, positive signals were detected in Southern blots of DNA from cells infected with the ROD isolate as well as other isolates of HIV-2 as shown in FIG. 2, A and FIG. 4, A. No signal was detected with DNA from uninfected cells or HIV-1 infected cells, confirming the exogenous nature of HIV-2. In undigested DNA from HIV-2 infected cells, an approximately 10 kb. species, probably corresponding to linear unintegrated viral DNA, was principally detected along with a species with an apparent size of 6 kb., likely to be the circular form of the viral DNA. Conversely, rehybridization of the same filter with an HIV-1 probe under stringent conditions showed hybridization to HIV-1 infected cells only as depicted in FIG. 2, B.

To isolate the remainder of the genome of HIV-2, a genomic library in lambda phage L47.1 was constructed. Lambda phage L47.1 has been described by W. A. M. Loenen et al. in Gene 10: 249-259 (1980), specifically incorporated herein by reference. The genomic library was constructed with a partial Sau3AI restriction digest of the DNA from the CEM cell line infected with HIV-2_(ROD).

About 2×10⁶ recombinant plaques were screened in situ with labelled insert from the E2 cDNA clone. Ten recombinant phages were detected and plaque purified. Of these phages, three were characterized by restriction mapping and Southern blot hybridization with the E2 insert and probes from its 3' end (LTR) or 5' end (envelope), as well as with HIV-1 subgenomic probes. In this instance, HIV-1 probes were used under non-stringent conditions.

A clone carrying a 9.5 kb. insert and derived from a circular viral DNA was identified as containing the complete genome and designated λROD 4. Two other clones, λROD 27 and λROD 35 were derived from integrated proviruses and found to carry an LTR and cellular flanking sequences and a portion of the viral coding sequences as shown in FIG. 3, A.

Fragments of the lambda clones were subcloned into a plasmid vector p UC 18.

Plasmid pROD 27-5' is derived from λROD 27 and contains the 5' 2 Kb of the HIV-2 genome and cellular flanking sequences (5' LTR and 5' viral coding sequences to the EcoRI site). Plasmid p ROD 4-8 is derived from λROD 4 and contains the about 5 Kb HindIII fragment that is the central part of the HIV-2 genome.

Plasmid pROD 27-5' and p ROD 4.8 inserts overlap.

Plasmid pROD 4.7 contains a HindIII 1.8 Kb fragment from λROD 4. This fragment is located 3' to the fragment subcloned into pROD 4.8 and contains about 0.8 Kb of viral coding sequences and the part of the lambda phage (λL47.1) left arm located between the BamHI and HindIII cloning sites.

Plasmid pROD 35 contains all the HIV-2 coding sequences 3' to the EcoRI site, the 3' LTR and about 4 Kb of cellular flanking sequences.

Plasmid pROD 27-5' and pROD 35 in E. coli strain HB 101 are deposited respectively under No. I-626 and I-633 at the CNCM, and have also been deposited at the NCIB (British Collection). These plasmids are depicted in FIG. 5. Plasmids pROD 4-7 and pROD 4-8 in E. coli strain TG1 are deposited respectively under No. I-627 and I-628 at the CNCM.

To reconstitute the complete HIV-2 ROD genome, pROD 35 is linearized with EcoRI and the EcoRI insert of pROD 27-5' is ligated in the correct orientation into this site.

The relationship of HIV-2 to other human and simian retroviruses was surmised from hybridization experiments. The relative homology of the different regions of the HIV-1 and 2 genomes was determined by hybridization of fragments of the cloned HIV-1 genome with the labelled λROD 4 expected to contain the complete HIV-2 genome (FIG. 3, B). Even in very low stringency conditions (Tm-42° C.), the hybridization of HIV-1 and 2 was restricted to a fraction of their genomes, principally the qaq gene (dots 1 and 2), the reverse transcriptase domain in pol (dot 3), the end of pol and the Q (or sor) genes (dot 5) and the F gene (or 3' orf) and 3' LTR (dot 11). The HIV-1 fragment used to detect the HIV-2 cDNA clones contained the dot 11 subclone, which hybridized well to HIV-2 under non-stringent conditions. Only the signal from dot 5 persisted after stringent washing. The envelope gene, the region of the tat gene and a part of pol thus seemed very divergent. These data, along with the LTR sequence obtained (FIG. 1, B), indicated that HIV-2 is not an envelope variant of HIV-1, as are African isolates from Zaire described by Alizon et al., Cell 40:63-74 (1986).

It was observed that HIV-2 is related more closely to the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) than it is to HIV-1. This correlation has been described by F. Clavel et al. in C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 302: 485-488 (1986) and F. Clavel et al. in Science 233: 343-346 (1986), both of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference. Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (also designated Simian T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 3, STLV-3) is a retrovirus first isolated from captive macaques with an AIDS-like disease in the USA. This simian virus has been described by M. D. Daniel et al. in Science 228: 1201-1204 (1985), specifically incorporated herein by reference.

All the SIV proteins, including the envelope, are immune precipitated by sera from HIV-2 infected patients, whereas the serological cross-reactivity of HIV-1 to 2 is restricted to the core proteins. However SIV and HIV-2 can be distinguished by slight differences in the apparent molecular weight of their proteins.

In terms of nucleotide sequence, it also appears that HIV-2 is closely related to SIV. The genomic RNA of SIV can be detected in stringent conditions as shown in FIG. 2, C by HIV-2 probes corresponding to the LTR and 3' end of the genome (E2) or to the gag or pol genes. Under the same conditions, HIV-1 derived probes do not detect the SIV genome as shown in FIG. 2, D.

In Southern blots of DNA from SIV-infected cells, a restriction pattern clearly different from HIV-2_(ROD) and other isolates is seen. All the bands persist after a stringent washing, even though the signal is considerably weakened, indicating a sequence homology throughout the genomes of HIV-2 and SIV. It has recently been shown that baboons and macaques could be infected experimentally by HIV-2, thereby providing an interesting animal model for the study of the HIV infection and its preventive therapy. Indeed, attempts to infect non-human primates with HIV-1 have been successful only in chimpanzees, which are not a convenient model.

From an initial survey of the restriction maps for certain of the HIV-2 isolates obtained according to the methods described herein, it is already apparent that HIV-2, like HIV-1, undergoes restriction site polymorphism. FIG. 4 A depicts examples of such differences for three isolates, all different one from another and from the cloned HIV-2_(ROD). it is very likely that these differences at the nucleotide level are accompanied by variations in the amino-acid sequence of the viral proteins, as evidenced in the case of HIV-1 and described by M. Alizon et al. in Cell 46: 63-74 (1986), specifically incorporated herein by reference. It is also to be expected that the various isolates of HIV-2 will exhibit amino acid heterogeneities. See, for example, Clavel et al., Nature 324 (18):691-695 (1986), specifically incorporated herein by reference.

Further, the characterization of HIV-2 will also delineate the domain of the envelope glycoprotein that is responsible for the binding of the surface of the target cells and the subsequent internalization of the virus. This interaction was shown to be mediated by the CD4 molecule itself in the case of HIV-1 and similar studies tend to indicate that HIV-2 uses the same receptor. Thus, although there is wide divergence between the env genes of HIV-1 and 2, small homologous domains of the envelopes of the two HIV could represent a candidate receptor binding site. This site could be used to raise a protective immune response against this group of retroviruses.

From the data discussed herein, certain nucleotide sequences have been identified which are capable of being used as probes in diagnostic methods to obtain the immunological reagents necessary to diagnose an HIV-2 infection. In particular, these sequences may be used as probes in hybridization reactions with the genetic material of infected patients to indicate whether the RNA of the HIV-2 virus is present in these patient's lymphocytes or whether an analogous DNA is present. In this embodiment, the test methods which may be utilized include Northern blots, Southern blots and dot blots. One particular nucleotide sequence which may be useful as a probe is the combination of the 5 kb. HindIII fragment of ROD 4 and the E2 cONA used in FIG. 4.

In addition, the genetic sequences of the HIV-2 virus may be used to create the polypeptides encoded by these sequences. Specifically, these polypeptides may be created by expression of the cDNA obtained according to the teachings herein in hosts such as bacteria, yeast or animal cells. These polypeptides may be used in diagnostic tests such as immunofluorescence assays (IFA), radioimmunoassays (RIA) and Western Blot tests.

Moreover, it is also contemplated that additional diagnostic tests, including additional immunodiagnostic tests, may be developed in which the DNA probes or the polypeptides of this invention may serve as one of the diagnostic reagents. The invention described herein includes these additional test methods.

In addition, monoclonal antibodies to these polypeptides or fragments thereof may be created. The monoclonal antibodies may be used in immunodiagnostic tests in an analogous manner as the polypeptides described above.

The polypeptides of the present invention may also be used as immunogenic reagents to induce protection against infection by HIV-2 viruses. In this embodiment, the polypeptides produced recombinant-DNA techniques would function as vaccine agents.

Also, the polypeptides of this invention may be used in competitive assays to test the ability of various antiviral agents to determine their ability to prevent the virus from fixing on its target.

Thus, it is to be understood that application of the teachings of the present invention to a specific problem or environment will be within the capabilities of one having ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings contained herein. Examples of the products of the present invention and representative processes for their isolation and manufacture appear above and in the following examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Cloning of a cDNA Complementary to Genomic RNA From HIV-2 Virions

HIV-2 virions were purified from 5 liters of supernatant from a culture of the CEM cell line infected with the ROD isolate and a cDNA first strand using oligo (dT) primer was synthesized in detergent activated endogenous reaction on pelleted virus, as described by M. Alizon et al. in Nature, 312: 757-760 (1984), specifically incorporated herein by reference. RNA-cDNA hybrids were purified by phenol-chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation. The second-strand cDNA was created by the DNA polymerase I/RNAase H method of Gubler and Hoffman in Gene, 25: 263-269 (1983), specifically incorporated herein by reference, using a commercial cDNA synthesis kit obtained from Amersham. After attachment of EcoRI linkers (obtained from Pharmacia), EcoRI digestion, and ligation into EcoRI-digested dephosphorylated M13 tg 130 vector (obtained from Amersham), a cDNA library was obtained by transformation of the E. coli TGl strain. Recombinant plaques (10⁴) were screened in situ on replica filters with the 1.5 kb. HindIII fragment from clone J19, corresponding to the 3' part of the genome of the LAV_(BRU) isolate of HIV-1, ³² P labelled to a specific activity of 10⁹ cpm μg. The filters were prehybridized in 5×SSC, 5× Denhardt solution, 25% formamide, and denatured salmon sperm DNA (100 μg/ml.) at 37° C. for 4 hours and hybridized for 16 hours in the same buffer (Tm -42° C.) plus 4×10⁷ cpm of the labelled probe (10⁶ cpm/ml. of hybridization buffer). The washing was done in 5×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 25° C. for 2 hours. 20×SSC is 3M NaCl, 0.3M Na citrate. Positive plaques were purified and single-stranded M13 DNA prepared and end-sequenced according to the method described in Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA, 74: 5463-5467 (1977) of Sanger et al.

Example 2: Hybridization of DNA from HIV-1 and HIV-2 Infected Cells and RNA from HIV-1 and 2 and SIV Virons With a Probe Derived From an HIV-2 Cloned CDNA

DNA was extracted from infected CEM cells continuously producing HIV-1 or 2. The DNA digested with 20 μg of PstI or undigested, was electrophoresed on a 0.8% agarose gel, and Southern-transferred to nylon membrane. Virion dot-blots were prepared in duplicate, as described by F. Clavel et al. in Science 233: 343-346 (1986), specifically incorporated herein by reference, by pelleting volumes of supernatant corresponding to the same amount of reverse transcriptase activity. Prehybridization was done in 50% formamide, 5×SSC, 5×Denhard solution, and 100 mg./ml. denatured salmon sperm DNA for 4 hours at 42° C. Hybridization was performed in the same buffer plus 10% Dextran sulphate, and 10⁶ cpm/ml. of the labelled E2 insert (specific activity 10⁹ cpm/μg.) for 16 hours at 42° C. Washing was in 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS for 2×30 mn. After exposition for 16 hours with intensifying screens, the Southern blot was dehybridized in 0.4 N NaOH, neutralized, and rehybridized in the same conditions to the HIV-1 probe labelled to 10⁹ cpm/μg.

Example 3: Cloning in Lambda Phage of the Complete Provirus DNA of HIV-2

DNA from the HIV-2_(ROD) infected CEM (FIG. 2, lanes a and c) was partially digested with Sau3AI. The 9-15 kb. fraction was selected on a 5-40% sucrose gradient and ligated to BamHI arms of the lambda L47.1 vector. Plaques (2×10⁶) obtained after in vitro packaging and plating on E. coli LA 101 strain were screened in situ with the insert from the E2 cDNA clone. Approximately 10 positive clones were plaque purified and propagated on E. coli C600 recBC. The ROD 4, 27, and 35 clones were amplified and their DNA characterized by restriction mapping and Southern blotting with the HIV-2 cDNA clone under stringent conditions, and gag-pol probes from HIV-1 used under non stringent conditions.

Example 4: Complete Genomic Sequence of the ROD HIV-2 Isolate

Experimental analysis of the HIV-2 ROD isolate yielded the following sequence which represents the complete genome of this HIV-2 isolate. Genes and major expression products identified within the following sequence are indicated by nucleotides numbered below:

1) GAG gene (546-2111) expresses a protein product having a molecular weight of around 55 kd and is cleaved into the following proteins:

a) p 16 (546-950)

b) p 26 (951-1640)

c) p 12 (1701-2111)

2) polymerase (1829-4936)

3) Q protein (4869-5513)

4) R protein (5682-5996)

5) X protein (5344-5679)

6) Y protein (5682-5996)

7) Env protein (6147-8720)

8) F protein (8557-9324)

9) TAT gene (5845-6140 and 8307-8400) is expressed by two exons separated by introns.

10) ART protein (6071-6140 and 8307-8536) is similarly the expression product of two exons.

11) LTR:R (1-173 and 9498-9671)

12) U5 (174-299)

13) U3 (8942-9497)

It will be known to one of skill in the art that the absolute numbering which has been adopted is not essential. For example, the nucleotide within the LTR which is designated as "1" is a somewhat arbitrary choice. What is important is the sequence information provided.

    GGTCGCTCTGCGGAGAGGCTGGCAGATTGAGCCCTGGGAGGTTCTCTCCAGCACTAGCAG                      -          .         .         .         .         .         .               GTAGAGCCTGGGTGTTCCCTGCTAGACTCTCACCAGCACTTGGCCGGTGCTGGGCAGACG                    -          .         .         .       100         .         .                GCCCCACGCTTGCTTGCTTAAAAACCTCTTAATAAAGCTGCCAGTTAGAAGCAAGTTAAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                TGTGTGCTCCCATCTCTCCTAGTCGCCGCCTGGTCATTCGGTGTTCACCTGAGTAACAAG                    -          .       200         .         .         .         .                ACCCTGGTCTGTTAGGACCCTTCTTGCTTTGGGAAACCGAGGCAGGAAAATCCCTAGCAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .       300                GTTGGCGCCTGAACAGGGACTTGAAGAAGACTGAGAAGTCTTGGAACACGGCTGACTGAA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                GGCAGTAAGGGCGGCAGGAACAAACCACGACGGAGTGCTCCTAGAAAGGCGCGGGCCGAG                    -          .         .         .       400         .         .                GTACCAAAGGCAGCGTGTGGAGCGGGAGGAGAAGAGGCCTCCGGGTGAAGGTAAGTACCT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                ACACCAAAAACTGTAGCCGAAAGGGCTTGCTATCCTACCTTTAGACAGGTAGAAGATTGT                    -          .       500         .         .         .         .                     MetGlyAlaArgAsnSerValLeuArgGlyLysLysAlaAspGluLeuGluArgIle                 GGGAGATGGGCGCGAGAAACTCCGTCTTGAGAGGGAAAAAAGCAGATGAATTAGAAAGAA                    -          .         .         .         .         .       600                  ArgLeuArgProGlyGlyLysLysLysTyrArgLeuLysHisIleValTrpAlaAlaAsn                 TCAGGTTACGGCCCGGCGGAAAGAAAAAGTACAGGCTAAAACATATTGTGTGGGCAGCGA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  LysLeuAspArgPheGlyLeuAlaGluSerLeuLeuGluSerLysGluGlyCysGlnLys                 ATAAATTGGACAGATTCGGATTACCAGAGAGCCTGTTGGAGTCAAAAGAGGGTTGTCAAA                    -          .         .         .       700         .         .                  IleLeuThrValLeuAspProMetValProThrGlySerGluAsnLeuLysSerLeuPhe                 AAATTCTTACAGTTTTAGATCCAATGGTACCGACAGGTTCAGAAAATTTAAAAAGTCTTT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  AsnThrValCysValIleTrpCysIleHisAlaGluGluLysValLysAspThrGluGly                 TTAATACTGTCTGCGTCATTTGGTGCATACACGCAGAAGAGAAAGTGAAAGATACTGAAG                    -          .       800         .         .         .         .                  AlaLysGlnIleValArgArgHisLeuValAlaGluThrGlyThrAlaGluLysMetPro                 GAGCAAAACAAATAGTGCGGAGACATCTAGTGGCAGAAACAGGAACTGCAGAGAAAATGC                    -          .         .         .         .         .       900                  SerThrSerArgProThrAlaProSerSerGluLysGlyGlyAsnTyrProValGlnHis                 CAAGCACAAGTAGACCAACAGCACCATCTAGCGAGAAGGGAGGAAATTACCCAGTGCAAC                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  ValGlyGlyAsnTyrThrHisIleProLeuSerProArgThrLeuAsnAlaTrpValLys                 ATGTAGGCGGCAACTACACCCATATACCGCTGAGTCCCCGAACCCTAAATGCCTGGGTAA                    -          .         .         .      1000         .         .                  LeuValGluGluLysLysPheGlyAlaGluValValProGlyPheGlnAlaLeuSerGlu                 AATTAGTAGAGGAAAAAAAGTTCGGGGCAGAAGTAGTGCCAGGATTTCAGGCACTCTCAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  GlyCysThrProTyrAspIleAsnGlnMetLeuAsnCysValGlyAspHisGlnAlaAla                 AAGGCTGCACGCCCTATGATATCAACCAAATGCTTAATTGTGTGGGCGACCATCAAGCAG                    -          .      1100         .         .         .         .                  MetGlnIleIleArgGluIleIleAsnGluGluAlaAlaGluTrpAspValGlnLisPro                 CCATGCAGATAATCAGGGAGATTATCAATGAGGAAGCAGCAGAATGGGATGTGCAACATC                    -          .         .         .         .         .      1200                  IleProGlyProLeuProAlaGlyGlnLeuArgGluProArgGlySerAspIleAlaGly                 CAATACCAGGCCCCTTACCAGCGGGGCAGCTTAGAGAGCCAAGGGGATCTGACATAGCAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  ThrThrSerThrValGluGluGlnIleGlnTrpMetPheArgProGlnAsnProValPro                 CGACAACAAGCACAGTAGAAGAACAGATCCAGTGGATGTTTAGGCCACAAAATCCTGTAC                    -          .         .         .      1300         .         .                  ValGlyAsnIleTyrArgArgTrpIleGlnIleGlyLeuGlnLysCysValArgMetTyr                 CAGTAGGAAACATCTATAGAAGATGGATCCAGATAGGATTGCAGAAGTGTGTCAGGATGT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  AsnProThrAsnIleLeuAspIleLysGlnGlyProLysGluProPheGlnSerTyrVal                 ACAACCCGACCAACATCCTAGACATAAAACAGGGACCAAAGGAGCCGTTCCAAAGCTATG                    -          .      1400         .         .         .         .                  AspArgPheTyrLysSerLeuArgAlaGluGlnThrAspProAlaValLysAsnTrpMet                 TAGATAGATTCTACAAAAGCTTGAGGGCAGAACAAACAGATCCAGCAGTGAAGAATTGGA                    -          .         .         .         .         .      1500                  ThrGlnThrLeuLeuValGlnAsnAlaAsnProAspCysLysLeuValLeuLysGlyLeu                 TGACCCAAACACTGCTAGTACAAAATGCCAACCCAGACTGTAAATTAGTGCTAAAAGGAC                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  GlyMetAsnProThrLeuGluGluMetLeuThrAlaCysGlnGlyValGlyGlyProGly                 TAGGGATGAACCCTACCTTAGAAGAGATGCTGACCGCCTGTCAGGGGGTAGGTGGGCCAG                    -          .         .         .      1600         .         .                  GlnLysAlaArgLeuMetAlaGluAlaLeuLysGluValIleGlyProAlaProIlePro                 GCCAGAAAGCTAGATTAATGGCAGAGGCCCTGAAAGAGGTCATAGGACCTGCCCCTATCC                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  PheAlaAlaAlaGlnGlnArgLysAlaPheLysCysTrpAsnCysGlyLysGluGlyHis                 CATTCGCAGCAGCCCAGCAGAGAAAGGCATTTAAATGCTGGAACTGTGGAAAGGAAGGGC                    -          .      1700         .         .         .         .                  SerAlaArgGlnCysArgAlaProArgArgGlnGlyCysTrpLysCysGlyLysProGly                 ACTCGGCAAGACAATGCCGAGCACCTAGAAGGCAGGGCTGCTGGAAGTGTGGTAAGCCAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .      1800                                            ThrGlyArgPhePheArgThrGlyProLeuGly                    HisIleMetThrAsnCysProAspArgGlnAlaGlyPheLeuGlyLeuGlyProTrpGly                 GACACATCATGAGAAACTGCCCAGATAGACAGGCAGGTTTTTTAGGACTGGGCCCTTGGG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 LysGluAlaProGlnLeuProArgGlyProSerSerAlaGlyAlaAspThrAsnSerThr                    LysLysProArgAsnPheProValAlaGlnValProGlnGlyLeuThrProThrAlaPro                 GAAAGAAGCCGCGCAACTTCCCCGTGGCCCAAGTTCCGCAGGGGCTGACACCAACAGCAC                    -          .         .         .      1900         .         .                 ProSerGlySerSerSerGlySerThrGlyGluIleTyrAlaAlaArgGluLysThrGlu                    ProValAspProAlaValAspLeuLeuGluLysTyrMetGlnGlnGlyLysArgGlnArg                 CCCCAGTGGATCCAGCAGTGGATCTACTGGAGAAATATATGCAGCAAGGGAAAAGACAGA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 ArgAlaGluArgGluThrIleGlnGlySerAspArgGlyLeuThrAlaProArgAlaGly                    GluGlnArgGluArgProTyrLysGluValThrGluAspLeuLeuHisLeuGluGlnGly                 GAGAGCAGAGAGAGAGACCATACAAGGAAGTGACAGAGGACTTACTGCACCTCGAGCAGG                    -          .      2000         .         .         .         .                 GlyAspThrIleGlnGlyAlaThrAsnArgGlyLeuAlaAlaProGlnPheSerLeuTrp                    GluThrProTyrArgGluProProThrGluAspLeuLeuHisLeuAsnSerLeuPheGly                 GGGAGACACCATACAGGGAGCCACCAACAGAGGACTTGCTGCACCTCAATTCTCTCTTTG                    -          .         .         .         .         .      2100                 LysArgProValValThrAlaTyrIleGluGlyGlnProValGluValLeuLeuAspThr                    LysAspGln                                                                    GAAAAGACCAGTAGTCACAGCATACATTGAGGGTCAGCCAGTAGAAGTCTTGTTAGACAC                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 GlyAlaAspAspSerIleValAlaGlyIleGluLeuGlyAsnAsnTyrSerProLysIle                  AGGGGCTGACGACTCAATAGTAGCAGGAATAGAGTTAGGGAACAATTATAGCCCAAAAAT                    -          .         .         .      2200         .         .                 ValGlyGlyIleGlyGlyPheIleAsnThrLysGluTyrLysAsnValGluIleGluVal                  AGTAGGGGGAATAGGGGGATTCATAAATACCAAGGAATATAAAAATGTAGAAATAGAAGT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 LeuAsnLysLysValArgAlaThrIleMetThrGlyAspThrProIleAsnIlePheGly                  TCTAAATAAAAAGGTACGGGCCACCATAATGACAGGCGACACCCCAATCAACATTTTTGG                    -          .      2300         .         .         .         .                 ArgAsnIleLeuThrAlaLeuGlyMetSerLeuAsnLeuProValAlaLysValGluPro                  CAGAAATATTCTGACAGCCTTAGGCATGTCATTAAATCTACCAGTCGCCAAAGTAGAGCC                    -          .         .         .         .         .      2400                 IleLysIleMetLeuLysProGlyLysAspGlyProLysLeuArgGlnTrpProLeuThr                  AATAAAAATAATGCTAAAGCCAGGGAAAGATGGACCAAAACTGAGACAATGGCCCTTAAC                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 LysGluLysIleGluAlaLeuLysGluIleCysGluLysMetGluLysGluGlyGlnLeu                  AAAAGAAAAAATAGAAGCACTAAAAGAAATCTGTGAAAAAATGGAAAAAGAAGGCCAGCT                    -          .         .         .      2500         .         .                 GluGluAlaProProThrAsnProTyrAsnThrProThrPheAlaIleLysLysLysAsp                  AGAGGAAGCACCTCCAACTAATCCTTATAATACCCCCACATTTGCAATCAAGAAAAAGGA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 LysAsnLysTrpArgMetLeuIleAspPheArgGluLeuAsnLysValThrGlnAspPhe                  CAAAAACAAATGGAGGATGCTAATAGATTTCAGAGAACTAAACAAGGTAACTCAAGATTT                    -          .      2600         .         .         .         .                 ThrGluIleGlnLeuGlyIleProHisProAlaGlyLeuAlaLysLysArgArgIleThr                  CACAGAAATTCAGTTAGGAATTCCACACCCAGCAGGGTTGGCCAAGAAGAGAAGAATTAC                    -          .         .         .         .         .      2700                 ValLeuAspValGlyAspAlaTyrPheSerIleProLeuHisGluAspPheArgProTyr                  TGTACTAGATGTAGGGGATGCTTACTTTTCCATACCACTACATGAGGACTTTAGACCATA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 ThrAlaPheThrLeuProSerValAsnAsnAlaGluProGlyLysArgTyrIleTyrLys                  TACTGCATTTACTCTACCATCAGTGAACAATGCAGAACCAGGAAAAAGATACATATATAA                    -          .         .         .      2800         .         .                 ValLeuProGlnGlyTrpLysGlySerProAlaIlePheGlnHisThrMetArgGlnVal                  AGTCTTGCCACAGGGATGGAAGGGATCACCAGCAATTTTTCAACACACAATGAGACAGGT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 LeuGluProPheArgLysAlaAsnLysAspValIleIleIleGlnTyrMetAspAspIle                  ATTAGAACCATTCAGAAAAGCAAACAAGGATGTCATTATCATTCAGTACATGGATGATAT                    -          .      2900         .         .         .         .                 LeuIleAlaSerAspArgThrAspLeuGluHisAspArgValValLeuGlnLeuLysGlu                  CTTAATAGCTAGTGACAGGACAGATTTAGAACATGATAGGGTAGTCCTGCAGCTCAAGGA                    -          .         .         .         .         .      3000                 LeuLeuAsnGlyLeuGlyPheSerThrProAspGluLysPheGlnLysAspProProTyr                  ACTTCTAAATGGCCTAGGATTTTCTACCCCAGATGAGAAGTTCCAAAAAGACCCTCCATA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 HisTrpMetGlyTyrGluLeuTrpProThrLysTrpLysLeuGlnLysIleGlnLeuPro                  CCACTGGATGGGCTATGAACTATGGCCAACTAAATGGAAGTTGCAGAAAATACAGTTGCC                    -          .         .         .      3100         .         .                 GlnLysGluIleTrpThrValAsnAspIleGlnLysLeuValGlyValLeuAsnTrpAla                  CCAAAAAGAAATATGGACAGTCAATGACATCCAGAAGCTAGTGGGTGTCCTAAATTGGGC                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 AlaGlnLeuTyrProGlyIleLysThrLysHisLeuCysArgLeuIleArgGlyLysMet                  AGCACAACTCTACCCAGGGATAAAGACCAAACACTTATGTAGGTTAATCAGAGGAAAAAT                    -          .      3200         .         .         .         .                 ThrLeuThrGluGluValGlnTrpThrGluLeuAlaGluAlaGluLeuGluGluAsnArg                  GACACTCACAGAAGAAGTACAGTGGACAGAATTACCAGAAGCAGAGCTAGAAGAAAACAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .      3300                 IleIleLeuSerGlnGluGlnGluGlyHisTyrTyrGlnGluGluLysGluLeuGluAla                  AATTATCCTAAGCCAGGAACAAGAGGGACACTATTACCAAGAAGAAAAAGAGCTAGAAGC                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 ThrValGlnLysAspGlnGluAsnGlnTrpThrTyrLysIleHisGlnGluGluLysIle                  AACAGTCCAAAAGGATCAAGAGAATCAGTGGACATATAAAATACACCAGGAAGAAAAAAT                    -          .         .         .      3400         .         .                 LeuLysValGlyLysTyrAlaLysValLysAsnThrHisThrAsnGlyIleArgLeuLeu                  TCTAAAAGTAGGAAAATATGCAAAGGTGAAAAACACCCATACCAATGGAATCAGATTGTT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 AlaGlnValValGlnLysIleGlyLysGluAlaLeuValIleTrpGlyArgIleProLys                  AGCACAGGTAGTTCAGAAAATAGGAAAAGAAGCACTAGTCATTTGGGGACCAATACCAAA                    -          .      3500         .         .         .         .                 PheHisLeuProValGluArgGluIleTrpGluGlnTrpTrpAspAsnTyrTrpGlnVal                  ATTTCACCTACCAGTAGAGAGAGAAATCTGGGAGCAGTGGTGGGATAACTACTGGCAAGT                    -          .         .         .         .         .      3600                 ThrTrpIleProAspTrpAspPheValSerThrProProLeuValArgLeuAlaPheAsn                  GACATGGATCCCAGACTGGGACTTCGTGTCTACCCCACCACTGGTCAGGTTAGCGTTTAA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 LeuValGlyAspProIleProGlyAlaGluThrPheTyrThrAspGlySerCysAsnArg                  CCTGGTAGGGGATCCTATACCAGGTGCAGAGACCTTCTACACAGATCGATCCTGCAATAG                    -          .         .         .      3700         .         .                  GlnSerLysGluGlyLysAlaGlyTyrValThrAspArgGlyLysAspLysValLysLys                 GCAATCAAAAGAAGGAAAAGCAGGATATGTAACAGATAGAGGGAAAGACAAGGTAAAGAA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 LeuGluGlnThrThrAsnGlnGlnAlaGluLeuGluAlaPheAlaMetAlaLeuThrAsp                  ACTAGAGCAAACTACCAATCAGCAAGCAGAACTAGAAGCCTTTGCGATGGCACTAACAGA                    -          .      3800         .         .         .         .                 SerGlyProLysValAsnIleIleValAspSerGlnTyrValMetGlyIleSerAlaSer                  CTCGGGTCCAAAAGTTAATATTATAGTAGACTCACAGTATGTAATGGGGATCAGTGCAAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .      3900                 GlnProThrGluSerGluSerLysIleValAsnGlnIleIleGluGluMetIleLysLys                  CCAACCAACAGAGTCAGAAAGTAAAATAGTGAACCAGATCATAGAAGAAATGATAAAAAA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 GluAlaIleTyrValAlaTrpValProAlaHisLysGlyIleGlyGlyAsnGlnGluVal                  GGAAGCAATCTATGTTGCATGGGTCCCAGCCCACAAAGGCATAGGGGGAAACCAGGAAGT                    -          .         .         .      4000         .         .                 AspHisLeuValSerGlnGlyIleArgGlnValLeuPheLeuGluLysIleGluProAla                  AGATCATTTAGTGAGTCAGGGTATCAGACAAGTGTTGTTCCTGGAAAAAATAGAGCCCGC                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 GlnGluGluHisGluLysTyrHisSerAsnValLysGluLeuSerHisLysPheGlyIle                  TCAGGAAGAACATGAAAAATATCATAGCAATGTAAAAGAACTGTCTCATAAATTTGGAAT                    -          .      4100         .         .         .         .                 ProAsnLeuValAlaArgGlnIleValAsnSerCysAlaGlnCysGlnGlnLysGlyGlu                  ACCCAATTTAGTGGCAAGGCAAATAGTAAACTCATGTGCCCAATGTCAACAGAAAGGGGA                    -          .         .         .         .         .      4200                 AlaIleHisGlyGlnValAsnAlaGluLeuGlyThrTrpGlnMetAspCysThrHisLeu                  AGCTATACATGGGCAAGTAAATGCAGAACTAGCCACTTGGCAAATGGACTGCACACATTT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 GluGlyLysIleIleIleValAlaValHisValAlaSerGlyPheIleGluAlaGluVal                  AGAAGGAAAGATCATTATAGTAGCAGTACATGTTGCAAGTGGATTTATAGAAGCAGAAGT                    -          .         .         .      4300         .         .                 IleProGlnGluSerGlyArgGlnThrAlaLeuPheLeuLeuLysLeuAlaSerArgTrp                  CATCGCACAGGAATCAGGAAGACAAACAGCACTCTTCCTATTGAAACTGGCAAGTAGGTG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 ProIleThrHisLeuHisThrAspAsnGlyAlaAsnPheThrSerGlnGluValLysMet                  GCCAATAACACACTTGCATACAGATAATGGTGCCAACTTCACTTCACAGGAGGTGAAGAT                    -          .      4400         .         .         .         .                 ValAlaTrpTrpIleGlyIleGluGlnSerPheGlyValProTyrAsnProGlnSerGln                  GGTAGCATGGTGGATAGGTATAGAACAATCCTTTGGAGTACCTTACAATCCACAGAGCCA                    -          .         .         .         .         .      4500                 GlyValValGluAlaMetAsnHisHisLeuLysAsnGluIleSerArgIleArgGluGln                  AGGAGTAGTAGAAGCAATGAATCACCATCTAAAAAACCAAATAAGTAGAATCAGAGAACA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 AlaAsnThrIleGluThrIleValLeuMetAlaIleHisCysMetAsnPheLysArgArg                  GGCAAATACAATAGAAACAATAGTACTAATGGCAATTCATTGCATGAATTTTAAAAGAAG                    -          .         .         .      4600         .         .                 GlyGlyIleGlyAspMetThrProSerGluArgLeuIleAsnMetIleThrThrGluGln                  GGGGGGAATAGGGGATATGACTCCATCAGAAAGATTAATCAATATGATCACCACAGAACA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 GluIleGlnPheLeuGlnAlaLysAsnSerLysLeuLysAspPheArgValTyrPheArg                  AGAGATACAATTCCTCCAAGCCAAAAATTCAAAATTAAAAGATTTTCGGGTCTATTTCAG                    -          .      4700         .         .         .         .                 GluGlyArgAspGlnLeuTrpLysGlyProGlyGluLeuLeuTrpLysGlyGluGlyAla                  AGAAGGCAGACATCAGTTGTGGAAAGGACCTGGGGAACTACTGTGGAAAGGAGAAGGAGC                    -          .         .         .         .         .      4800                 ValLeuValLysValGlyThrAspIleLysIleIleProArgArgLysAlaLysIleIle                  AGTCCTAGTCAAGGTAGGAACAGACATAAAAATAATACCAAGAAGGAAAGCCAAGATCAT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 ArgAspTyrGlyGlyArgGlnGluMetAspSerGlySerHisLeuGluGlyAlaArgGlu                          MetGluGluAspLysArgTrpIleValValProThrTrpArgValProGlyArg                 CAGACACTATGGAGGAAGACAAGAGATGGATAGTGGTTCCCACCTGGAGGGTGCCAGGGA                    -          .         .         .      4900         .         .                 AspGlyGluMetAla                                                                 MetGluLysTrpHisSerLeuValLysTyrLeuLysTyrLysThrLysAspLeuGluLys                 GGATGGAGAAATGGCATAGCCTTGTCAAGTATCTAAAATACAAAACAAAGGATCTAGAAA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  ValCysTyrValProHisHisLysValGlyTrpAlaTrpTrpThrCysSerArgValIle                 AGGTGTGCTATGTTCCCCACCATAAGGTGGGATGGGCATGGTGGACTTGCAGCAGGGTAA                    -          .      5000         .         .         .         .                  PheProLeuLysGlyAsnSerHisLeuGluIleGlnAlaTyrTrpAsnLeuThrProGlu                 TATTCCCATTAAAAGGAAACAGTCATCTAGAGATACAGGCATATTGGAACTTAACACCAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .      5100                  LysGlyTrpLeuSerSerTyrSerValArgIleThrTrpTyrThrGluLysPheTrpThr                 AAAAAGGATGGCTCTCCTCTTATTCAGTAAGAATAACTTGGTACACAGAAAAGTTCTGGA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  AspValThrProAspCysAlaAspValLeuIleHisSerThrTyrPheProCysPheThr                 CAGATGTTACCCCAGACTGTGCAGATGTCCTAATACATAGCACTTATTTCCCTTGCTTTA                    -          .         .         .      5200         .         .                  AlaGlyGluValArgArgAlaIleArgGlyGluLysLeuLeuSerCysCysAsnTyrPro                 CAGCAGGTGAAGTAAGAAGAGCCATCAGAGGGGAAAAGTTATTGTCCTGCTGCAATTATC                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  ArgAlaHisArgAlaGlnValProSerLeuGlnPheLeuAlaLeuValValValGlnGln                 CCCGAGCTCATAGACCCCAGGTACCGTCACTTCAATTTCTGGCCTTAGTGGTAGTCCAAC                    -          .      5300         .         .         .         .                   MetThrAspProArgGluThrValProProGlyAsnSerGlyGluGluThrIleGly                     AsnAspArgProGlnArgAspSerThrThrArgLysGlnArgArgArgAspTyrArgArg                 AAAATGACAGACCCCAGAGAGACAGTACCACCAGGAAACAGCGGCGAAGAGACTATCGGA                    -          .         .         .         .         .      5400                GluAlaPheAlaTrpLeuAsnArgThrValGluAlaIleAsnArgGluAlaValAsnHis                     GlyLeuArgLeuAlaLysGlnAspSerArgSerHisLysGlnArgSerSerGluSerPro                 GAGGCCTTCGCCTGGCTAAACAGGACAGTAGAAGCCATAAACAGAGAAGCAGTGAATCAC                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                LeuProArgGluLeuIlePheGlnValTrpGlnArgSerTrpArgTyrTrpHisAspGlu                     ThrProArgThrTyrPheProGlyValAlaGluValLeuGluIleLeuAla                          CTACCCCGAGAACTTATTTTCCAGGTGTGGCAGAGGTCCTGGAGATACTGGCATGATGAA                    -          .         .         .      5500         .         .                GlnGlyMetSerGluSerTyrThrLysTyrArgTyrLeuCysIleIleGlnLysAlaVal                   CAAGGGATGTCAGAAAGTTACACAAAGTATAGATATTTGTGCATAATACAGAAAGCAGTG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                TyrMetHisValArgLysGlyCysThrCysLeuGlyArgGlyHisGlyProGlyGlyTrp                   TACATGCATGTTAGGAAAGGGTGTACTTGCCTGGGGAGGGGACATGGGCCAGGAGGGTGG                    -          .      5600         .         .         .         .                ArgProGlyProProProProProProProGlyLeuVal                                                                                 MetAlaGluAlaProThrGlu                 AGACCAGGGCCTCCTCCTCCTCCCCCTCCAGGTCTGGTCTAATGGCTGAAGCACCAACAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .      5700                  LeuProProValAspGlyThrProLeuArgGluProGlyAspGluTrpIleIleGluIle                 AGCTCCCCCCGGTGGATGGGACCCCACTGAGGGAGCCAGGGGATGAGTGGATAATAGAAA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  LeuArgGluIleLysGluGluAlaLeuLysHisPheAspProArgLeuLeuIleAlaLeu                 TCTTGAGAGAAATAAAAGAAGAAGCTTTAAAGCATTTTGACCCTCGCTTGCTAATTGCGC                    -          .         .         .      5800         .         .                                        MetGluThrProLeuLysAlaProGluSerSerLeu                     GlyLysTyrIleTyrThrArgHisGlyAspThrLeuGluGlyAlaArgGluLeuIleLys                 TTGGCAAATATATCTATACTAGACATGGAGACACCCTTGAAGGCGCCAGAGAGCTCATTA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                LysSerCysAsnGluProPheSerArgThrSerGluGlnAspValAlaThrGlnGluLeu                     ValLeuGlnArgAlaLeuPheThrHisPheArgAlaGlyCysGlyHisSerArgIleGly                 AAGTCCTGCAACGAGCCCTTTTCACGCACTTCAGAGCAGGATGTGGCCACTCAAGAATTG                    -          .      5900         .         .         .         .                AlaArgGlnGlyGluGluIleLeuSerGlnLeuTyrArgProLeuGluThrCysAsnAsn                     GlnThrArgGlyGlyAsnProLeuSerAlaIleProThrProArgAsnMetGln                       GCCAGACAAGGGGAGGAAATCCTCTCTCAGCTATACCGACCCCTAGAAACATGCAATAAC                    -          .         .         .         .         .      6000                SerCysTyrCysLysArgCycCysTyrHisCysGlnMetCysPheLeuAsnLysGlyLeu                   TCATGCTATTGTAAGCGATGCTGCTACCATTGTCAGATGTGTTTTCTAAACAAGGGGCTC                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                GlyIleCysTyrGluArgLysGlyArgArgArgArgThrProLysLysThrLysThrHis                             MetAsnGluArgAlaAspGluGluGlyLeuGlnArgLysLeuArgLeuIle                  GGGATATGTTATGAACGAAAGGGCAGACGAAGAAGGACTCCAAAGAAAACTAAGACTCAT                    -          .         .         .      6100         .         .                ProSerProThrProAspLys                                                           ArgLeuLeuHisGlnThr                                                                                      MetMetAsnGlnLeuLeuIleAlaIleLeuLeuAla                 CCGTCTCCTACACCAGACAAGTGAGTATGATGAATCAGCTGCTTATTGCCATTTTATTAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  SerAlaCysLeuValTyrCysThrGlnTyrValThrValPheTyrGlyValProThrTrp                 CTAGTGCTTGCTTAGTATATTGCACCCAATATGTAACTGTTTTCTATGGCGTACCCACGT                    -          .      6200         .         .         .         .                  LysAsnAlaThrIleProLeuPheCysAlaThrArgAsnArgAspThrTrpGlyThrIle                 GGAAAAATGCAACCATTCCCCTCTTTTGTGCAACCAGAAATAGGGATACTTGGGGAACCA                    -          .         .         .         .         .      6300                  GlnCysLeuProAspAsnAspAspTyrGlnGluIleThrLeuAsnValThrGluAlaPhe                 TACAGTGCTTGCCTGACAATGATGATTATCAGGAAATAACTTTGAATGTAACAGAGCCTT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  AspAlaTrpAsnAsnThrValThrGluGlnAlaIleGluAspValTrpHisLeuPheGlu                 TTGATGCATGGAATAATACAGTAACAGAACAAGCAATAGAAGATGTCTGGCATCTATTCG                    -          .         .         .      6400         .         .                  ThrSerIleLysProCysValLysLeuThrProLeuCysValAlaMetLysCysSerSer                 AGACATCAATAAAACCATGTGTCAAACTAACACCTTTATGTGTAGCAATGAAATGCAGCA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  ThrGluSerSerThrGlyAsnAsnThrThrSerLysSerThrSerThrThrThrThrThr                 GCACAGAGAGCAGCACAGGGAACAACACAACCTCAAAGAGCACAAGCACAACCACAACCA                    -          .      6500         .         .         .         .                  ProThrAspGlnGluGlnGluIleSerGluAspThrProCysAlaArgAlaAspAsnCys                 CACCCACAGACCAGGAGCAAGAGATAAGTGAGGATACTCCATGCGCACGCGCAGACAACT                    -          .         .         .         .         .      6600                  SerGlyLeuGlyGluGluGluThrIleAsnCysGlnPheAsnMetThrGlyLeuGluArg                 GCTCAGGATTGGGAGAGGAAGAAACGATCAATTGCCAGTTCAATATGACAGGATTAGAAA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  AspLysLysLysGlnTyrAsnGluThrTrpTyrSerLysAspValValCysGluThrAsn                 GAGATAAGAAAAAACAGTATAATGAAACATGGTACTCAAAAGATGTGGTTTGTGAGACAA                    -          .         .         .      6700         .         .                  AsnSerThrAsnGlnThrGlnCysTyrMetAsnHisCysAsnThrSerValIleThrGlu                 ATAATAGCACAAATCAGACCCAGTGTTACATGAACCATTGCAACACATCAGTCATCACAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  SerCysAspLysHisTyrTrpAspAlaIleArgPheArgTyrCysAlaProProGlyTyr                 AATCATGTGACAAGCACTATTGGGATGCTATAAGGTTTAGATACTGTGCACCACCGGGTT                    -          .      6800         .         .         .         .                  AlaLeuLeuArgCysAsnAspThrAsnTyrSerGlyPheAlaProAsnCysSerLysVal                 ATGCCCTATTAAGATGTAATGATACCAATTATTCAGGCTTTGCACCCAACTGTTCTAAAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .      6900                  ValAlaSerThrCysThrArgMetMetGluThrGlnThrSerThrTrpPheGlyPheAsn                 TAGTAGCTTCTACATGCACCAGGATGATGGAAACGCAAACTTCCACATGGTTTGGCTTTA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  GlyThrArgAlaGluAsnArgThrTyrIleTyrTrpHisGlyArgAspAsnArgThrIle                 ATGGCACTAGAGCAGAGAATAGAACATATATCTATTGGCATGGCAGAGATAATAGAACTA                    -          .         .         .      7000         .         .                  IleSerLeuAsnLysTyrTyrAsnLeuSerLeuHisCysLysArgProGlyAsnLysThr                 TCATCAGCTTAAACAAATATTATAATCTCAGTTTGCATTGTAAGAGGCCAGGGAATAAGA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  ValLysGlnIleMetLeuMetSerGlyHisValPheHisSerHisTyrGlnProIleAsn                 CAGTGAAACAAATAATGCTTATGTCAGGACATGTGTTTCACTCCCACTACCAGCCGATCA                    -          .      7100         .         .         .         .                  LysArgProArgGlnAlaTrpCysTrpPheLysGlyLysTrpLysAspAlaMetGlnGlu                 ATAAAAGACCCAGACAAGCATGGTGCTGGTTCAAAGGCAAATGGAAAGACGCCATGCAGG                    -          .         .         .         .         .      7200                  ValLysGluThrLeuAlaLysHisProArgTyrArgGlyThrAsnAspThrArgAsnIle                 AGGTGAAGGAAACCCTTGCAAAACATCCCAGGTATAGAGGAACCAATGACACAAGGAATA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  SerPheAlaAlaProGlyLysGlySerAspProGluValAlaTyrMetTrpThrAsnCys                 TTAGCTTTGCAGCGCCAGGAAAAGGCTCAGACCCAGAAGTAGCATACATGTGGACTAACT                    -          .         .         .      7300         .         .                  ArgGlyGluPheLeuTyrCysAsnMetThrTrpPheLeuAsnTrpIleGluAsnLysThr                 GCAGAGGAGAGTTTCTCTACTGCAACATGACTTGGTTCCTCAATTGGATAGAGAATAAGA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  HisArgAsnTyrAlaProCysHisIleLysGlnIleIleAsnThrTrpHisLysValGly                 CACACCGCAATTATGCACCGTGCCATATAAAGCAAATAATTAACACATGGCATAAGGTAG                    -          .      7400         .         .         .         .                  ArgAsnValTyrLeuProProArgGluGlyGluLeuSerCysAsnSerThrValThrSer                 GGAGAAATGTATATTTGCCTCCCAGGGAAGGGGAGCTGTCCTGCAACTCAACAGTAACCA                    -          .         .         .         .         .      7500                  IleIleAlaAsnIleAspTrpGlnAsnAsnAsnGlnThrAsnIleThrPheSerAlaGlu                 GCATAATTGCTAACATTGACTGGCAAAACAATAATCAGACAAACATTACCTTTAGTGCAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  ValAlaGluLeuTyrArgLeuGluLeuGlyAspTyrLysLeuValGluIleThrProIle                 AGGTGGCAGAACTATACAGATTGGAGTTGGGAGATTATAAATTGGTAGAAATAACACCAA                    -          .         .         .      7600         .         .                  GlyPheAlaProThrLysGluLysArgTyrSerSerAlaHisGlyArgHisThrArgGly                 TTGGCTTCGCACCTACAAAAGAAAAAAGATACTCCTCTGCTCACGGGAGACATACAAGAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  ValPheValLeuGlyPheLeuGlyPheLeuAlaThrAlaGlySerAlaMetGlyAlaAla                 GTGTGTTCGTGCTAGGGTTCTTGGGTTTTCTCGCAACAGCAGGTTCTGCAATGGGCGCGG                    -          .      7700         .         .         .         .                  SerLeuThrValSerAlaGlnSerArgThrLeuLeuAlaGlyIleValGlnGlnGlnGln                 CGTCCCTGACCGTGTCGGCTCAGTCCCGGACTTTACTGGCCGGGATAGTGCAGCAACAGC                    -          .         .         .         .         .      7800                  GlnLeuLeuAspValValLysArgGlnGlnGluLeuLeuArgLeuThrValTrpGlyThr                 AACAGCTGTTGGACGTGGTCAAGAGACAACAAGAACTGTTGCGACTGACCGTCTGGGGAA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  LysAsnLeuGlnAlaArgValThrAlaIleGluLysTyrLeuGlnAspGlnAlaArgLeu                 CGAAAAACCTCCAGGCAACAGTCACTGCTATAGAGAAGTACCTACAGGACCAGGCGCGGC                    -          .         .         .      7900         .         .                  AsnSerTrpGlyCysAlaPheArgGlnValCysHisThrThrValProTrpValAsnAsp                 TAAATTCATGGGGATGTGCGTTTAGACAAGTCTGCCACACTACTGTACCATGGGTTAATG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  SerLeuAlaProAspTrpAspAsnMetThrTrpGlnGluTrpGluLysGlnValArgTyr                 ATTCCTTAGCACCTGACTGGGACAATATGACGTGGCAGGAATGGGAAAAACAAGTCCGCT                    -          .      8000         .         .         .         .                  LeuGluAlaAsnIleSerLysSerLeuGluGlnAlaGlnIleGlnGlnGluLysAsnMet                 ACCTGGAGGCAAATATCAGTAAAAGTTTAGAACAGGCACAAATTCAGCAAGAGAAAAATA                    -          .         .         .         .         .      8100                  TyrGluLeuGlnLysLeuAsnSerTrpAspIlePheGlyAsnTrpPheAspLeuThrSer                 TGTATGAACTACAAAAATTAAATAGCTGGGATATTTTTGGCAATTGGTTTGACTTAACCT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                  TrpValLysTyrIleGlnTyrGlyValLeuIleIleValAlaValIleAlaLeuArgIle                 CCTGGGTCAAGTATATTCAATATGGAGTCCTTATAATAGTAGCAGTAATAGCTTTAACAA                    -          .         .         .      8200         .         .                  ValIleTyrValValGlnMetLeuSerArgLeuArgLysGlyTyrArgProValPheSer                 TAGTGATATATGTAGTACAAATGTTAAGTAGGCTTAGAAAGGGCTATAGGCCTGTTTTCT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                                           SerIleSerThrArgThrGlyAspSerGlnPro                                            AsnProTyrProGlnGlyProGlyThrAlaSerGln                    SerProProGlyTyrIleGlnGlnIleHisIleHisLysAspArgGlyGlnProAlaAsn                 CTTCCCCCCCCGGTTATATCCAACAGATCCATATCCACAAGGACCGGGGACAGCCAGCCA                    -          .      8300         .         .         .         .                ThrLysLysGlnLysLysThrValGluAlaThrValGluThrAspThrGlyProGlyArg                    ArgArgAsnArgArgArgArgTrpLysGlnArgTrpArgGlnIleLeuAlaLeuAlaAsp                    GluGluThrGluGluAspGlyGlySerAsnGlyGlyAspArgTyrTrpProTrpProIle                 ACGAAGAAACAGAAGAAGACGGTGGAAGCAACGGTGGAGACAGATACTGGCCCTGGCCGA                    -          .         .         .         .         .      8400                 SerIleTyrThrPheProAspProProAlaAspSerProLeuAspGlnThrIleGlnHis                    AlaTyrIleHisPheLeuIleArgGlnLeuIleArgLeuLeuThrArgLeuTyrSerIle                 TAGCATATATACATTTCCTGATCCGCCAGCTGATTCGCCTCTTGACCAGACTATACAGCA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                 LeuGlnGlyLeuThrIleGlnGluLeuProAspProProThrHisLeuProGluSerGln                    CysArgAspLeuLeuSerArgSerPheLeuThrLeuGlnLeuIleTyrGlnAsnLeuArg                 TCTGCAGGGACTTACTATCCAGGAGCTTCCTGACCCTCCAACTCATCTACCAGAATCTCA                    -          .         .         .      8500         .         .                 ArgLeuAlaGluThr                    MetGlyAlaSerGlySerLysLys                     AspTrpLeuArgLeuArgThrAlaPheLeuGlnTyrGlyCysGluTrpIleGlnGluAla                 GAGACTGGCTGAGACTTAGAACAGCCTTCTTGCAATATGGGTGCGAGTGGATCCAAGAAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                HisSerArgProProArgGlyLeuGlnGluArgLeuLeuArgAlaArgAlaGlyAlaCys                     PheGlnAlaAlaAlaArgAlaThrArgGluThrLeuAlaGlyAlaCysArgGlyLeuTrp                 CATTCCAGGCCGCCGCGAGGGCTACAAGAGAGACTCTTGAGGGCGCGTGCAGGGGCTTCT                    -          .      8600         .         .         .         .                GlyGlyTyrTrpAsnGluSerGlyGluGluTyrSerArgPheGlnGluGlySerAspArg                     ArgValLeuGluArgIleGlyArgGlyIleLeuAlaValProArgArgIleArgGlnGly                 GCAGCGTATTGGAACGAATCGGGAGGGGAATACTCGCGGTTCCAAGAAGGATCAGACAGC                    -          .         .         .         .         .      8700                GluGlnLysSerProSerCysGluGlyArgGlnTyrGlnGlnGlyAspPheMetAsnThr                     AlaGluIleAlaLeuLeu                                                           GAGCAGAAATCGCCCTCCTGTGAGGGACGGCAGTATCAGCAGGGAGACTTTATGAATACT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                ProTrpLysAspProAlaAlaGluArgGluLysAsnLeuTyrArgGlnGlnAsnMetAsp                   CCATGGAAGGACCCAGCAGCAGAAAGGGAGAAAAATTTGTACAGGCAACAAAATATGGAT                    -          .         .         .      8800         .         .                AspValAspSerAspAspAspAspGlnValArgValSerValThrProLysValProLeu                   GATGTAGATTCAGATGATGATGACCAAGTAAGAGTTTCTGTCACACCAAAAGTACCACTA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                ArgProMetThrHisArgLeuAlaIleAspMetSerHisLeuIleLysThrArgGlyGly                   AGACCAATGACACATAGATTGGCAATAGATATGTCACATTTAATAAAAACAAGGGGGGGA                    -          .      8900         .         .         .         .                LeuGluGlyMetPheTyrSerGluArgArgHisLysIleLeuAsnIleTyrLeuGluLys                   CTGGAAGGGATGTTTTACAGTGAAAGAAGACATAAAATCTTAAATATATACTTAGAAAAG                    -          .         .         .         .         .      9000                GluGluGlyIleIleAlaAspTrpGlnAsnTyrThrHisGlyProGlyValArgTyrPro                   CAAGAAGGGATAATTGCAGATTGGCAGAACTACACTCATGGGCCAGGAGTAAGATACCCA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                MetPhePheGlyTrpLeuTrpLysLeuValProValAspValProGlnGluGlyGluAsp                   ATGTTCTTTGGGTGGCTATGGAAGCTAGTACCAGTAGATGTCCCACAAGAAGGGGAGGAC                    -          .         .         .      9100         .         .                ThrGluThrHisCysLeuValHisProAlaGlnThrSerLysPheAspAspProHisGly                   ACTGAGACTCACTGCTTAGTACATCCAGCACAAACAAGCAAGTTTGATGACCCGCATGGG                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                GluThrLeuValTrpGluPheAspProLeuLeuAlaTyrSerTyrGluAlaPheIleArg                   GAGACACTAGTCTGGGAGTTTGATCCCTTGCTGGCTTATAGTTACGAGGCTTTTATTCGG                    -          .      9200         .         .         .         .                TyrProGluGluPheGlyHisLysSerGlyLeuProGluGluGluTrpLysAlaArgLeu                   TACCCAGAGGAATTTGGGCACAAGTCAGGCCTGCCAGAGGAAGAGTGGAAGGCGAGACTG                    -          .         .         .         .         .      9300                LysAlaArgGlyIleProPheSer                                                       AAAGCAAGAGCAATACCATTTAGTTAAAGACAGGAACAGCTATACTTGGTCAGGGCAGGA                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                AGTAACTAACAGAAACAGCTGAGACTGCAGGGACTTTCCAGAAGGGGCTGTAACCAAGGG                    -          .         .         .      9400         .         .                AGGGACATGGGAGGAGCTGGTGGGGAACGCCCTCATATTCTCTGTATAAATATACCCGCT                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                AGCTTGCATTGTACTTCGGTCGCTCTGCGGAGAGGCTGGCAGATTGAGCCCTGGGAGGTT                    -          .      9500         .         .         .         .                CTCTCCAGCAGTAGCAGGTAGAGCCTGGGTGTTCCCTGCTAGACTCTCACCAGCACTTGG                    -          .         .         .         .         .      9600                CCGGTGCTGGGCAGACGGCCCCACGCTTGCTTGCTTAAAAACCTCCTTAATAAAGCTGCC                    -          .         .         .         .         .         .                AGTTAGAAGCA                                                                     -          .                                                            

Example 5: Sequences of the coding Regions for the Envelope Protein and GAG Product of the ROD HIV-2 Isolate

Through experimental analysis of the HIV-2 ROD isolate, the following sequences were identified for the regions encoding the env and gag gene products. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the numbering for both gene regions which follow begins for convenience with "1" rather than the corresponding number for its initial nucleotide as given in Example 4, above, in the context of the complete genomic sequence.

Envelope sequence

    Envelope sequence                                                                -  - MetMetAsnGlnLeuLeuIleAlaIleLeuLeuAlaSerAlaCys                            ATGATGATCCAGCTGCTTATTGCCATTTTATTAGCTAGTGCTTGC                                           .         .         .         .                                       LeuValTyrCysThrGlnTyrValThrValPheTyrGlyValPro                                  TTAGTATATTGCACCCAATATGTAACTGTTTTCTATGGCGTACCC                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  ThrTrpLysAsnAlaThrIleProLeuPheCysAlaThrArgAsn                                  ACGTGGAAAAATGCAACCATTCCCCTGTTTTGTGCAACCAGAAAT                                         100         .         .         .                                       ArgAspThrTrpGlyThrIleGlnCysLeuProAspAsnAspAsp                                  AGGGATACTTGGGGAACCATACAGTGCTTGCCTGACAATGATGAT                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  TyrGlnGluIleThrLeuAsnValThrGluAlaPheAspAlaTrp                                  TATCAGGAAATAACTTTGAATGTAACAGAGGCTTTTGATGCATGG                                           .       200         .         .                                       AsnAsnThrValThrGluGlnAlaIleGluAspValTrpHisLeu                                  AATAATACAGTAACAGAACAAGCAATAGAAGATGTCTGGCATCTA                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  PheGluThrSerIleLysProCysValLysLeuThrProLeuCys                                  TTCGAGACATCAATAAAACCATGTGTGAAACTAACACCTTTATGT                                           .         .       300         .                                       ValAlaMetLysCysSerSerThrGluSerSerThrGlyAsnAsn                                  GTAGCAATGAAATGCAGCAGCACAGAGAGCAGCACAGGGAACAAC                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  ThrThrSerLysSerThrSerThrThrThrThrThrProThrAsp                                  ACAACCTCAAAGAGCACAAGCACAACCACAACCACACCCAGAGAG                                           .         .         .       400                                       GlnGluGlnGluIleSerGluAspThrProCysAlaArgAlaAsp                                  CAGGAGCAAGAGATAAGTGAGGATACTCCATGCGCACGCGCAGAC                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  AsnCysSerGlyLeuGlyGluGluGLuThrIleAsnCysGlnPhe                                  AACTGCTCAGGATTGGGAGAGGAAGAAACGATCAATTGCCAGTTC                                           .         .         .         .                                       AsnMetThrGlyLeuGluArgAspLysLysLysGlnTyrAsnGlu                                  AATATGACAGGATTAGAAAGAGATAAGAAAAAACAGTATAATGAA                                    500         .         .         .         .                                  ThrTrpTyrSerLysAspValValCysGluThrAsnAsnSerThr                                  ACATGGTACTCAAAAGATGTGGTTTGTGAGACAAATAATAGCACA                                           .         .         .         .                                       AsnGlnThrGlnCysTyrMetAsnHisCysAsnThrSerValIle                                  AATCAGACCCAGTGTTACATGAACCATTGCAACACATCAGTCATC                                      .       600         .         .         .                                  ThrGluSerCysAspLysHisTyrTrpAspAlaIleArgPheArg                                  ACAGAATCATGTGACAAGCACTATTGGGATGCTATAAGGTTTAGA                                           .         .         .         .                                       TyrCysAlaProProGlyTyrAlaLeuLeuArgCysAsnAspThr                                  TACTGTGCACCACCGGGTTATGCCCTATTAAGATGTAATGATACC                                      .         .       700         .         .                                  AsnTrySerGlyPheAlaProAsnCysSerLysValValAlaSer                                  AATTATTCAGGCTTTGCACCCAACTGTTCTAAAGTAGTAGCTTCT                                           .         .         .         .                                       ThrCysThrArgMetMetGluThrGlnThrSerThrTrpPheGly                                  ACATGCACCAGGATGATGGAAACGCAAACTTCCACATGGTTTGGC                                      .         .         .       800         .                                  PheAsnGlyThrArgAlaGluAsnArgThrTyrIleTyrTrpHis                                  TTTAATGGCACTAGAGCAGAGAATAGAACATATATCTATTGGCAT                                           .         .         .         .                                       GlyArgAspAsnArgThrIleIleSerLeuAsnLysTyrTyrAsn                                  GGCAGAGATAATAGAACTATCATCAGCTTAAACAAATATTATAAT                                      .         .         .         .       900                                  LeuSerLeuHisCysLysArgProGlyAsnLysThrValLysGln                                  CTCAGTTTGCATTGTAAGAGGCCAGGGAATAAGACAGTGAAACAA                                           .         .         .         .                                       IleMetLeuMetSerGlyHisValPheHisSerHisTyrGlnPro                                  ATAATGCTTATGTCAGGACATGTGTTTCACTCCCACTACCAGCCG                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  IleAsnLysArgProArgGlnAlaTrpCysTrpPheLysGluLys                                  ATCAATAAAAGACCCAGACAAGCATGGTGCTGGTTCAAAGGCAAA                                        1000         .         .         .                                       TrpLysAspAlaMetGlnGluValLysThrLeuAlaLysHisPro                                  TGGAAAGACGCCATGCAGGAGGTGAAGACCCTTGCAAAACATCCC                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  ArgTyrArgGlyThrAsnAspThrArgAsnIleSerPheAlaAla                                  AGGTATAGAGGAACCAATGACACAAGGAATATTAGCTTTGCAGCG                                           .      1100         .         .                                       ProGlyLysGlySerAspProGluValAlaTyrMetTrpThrAsn                                  CCAGGAAAAGGCTCAGACCCAGAAGTAGCATACATGTGGACTAAC                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  CysArgGlyGluPheLeuTyrCysAsnMetThrTrpPheLeuAsn                                  TGCAGAGGAGAGTTTCTCTACTGCAACATGACTTGGTTCCTCAAT                                           .         .      1200         .                                       TrpIleGluAsnLysThrHisArgAsnTyrAlaProCysHisIle                                  TGGATAGAGAATAAGACACACCGCAATTATGCACCGTGCCATATA                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  LysGlnIleIleAsnThrTrpHisLysValGlyArgAsnValTyr                                  AAGCAAATAATTAACACATGGCATAAGGTAGGGAGAAATGTATAT                                           .         .         .      1300                                       LeuProProArgGluGlyGluLeuSerCysAsnSerThrValThr                                  TTGCCTCCCAGGGAAGGGGAGCTGTCCTGCAACTCAACAGTAACC                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  SerIleIleAlaAsnIleAspTrpGlnAsnAsnAsnGlnThrAsn                                  AGCATAATTGCTAACATTGACTGGCAAAACAATAATCAGACAAAC                                           .         .         .         .                                       IleThrPheSerAlaGluValAlaGluLeuTyrArgLeuGluLeu                                  ATTACCTTTAGTGCAGAGGTGGCAGAACTATACAGATTGGAGTTG                                   1400         .         .         .         .                                  GlyAspTyrLysLeuValGluIleThrProIleGlyPheAlaPro                                  GGAGATTATAAATTGGTAGAAATAACACCAATTGGCTTCGCACCT                                           .         .         .         .                                       ThrLysGluLysArgTyrSerSerAlaHisGlyArgHisThrArg                                  ACAAAAGAAAAAAGATACTCCTCTGCTCACGGGAGACATACAAGA                                      .      1500         .         .         .                                  GlyValPheValLeuGlyPheLeuGlyPheLeuAlaThrAlaGly                                  GGTGTGTTCGTGCTAGGGTTCTTGGGTTTTCTCGCAACAGCAGGT                                           .         .         .         .                                       SerAlaMetGlyAlaArgAlaSerLeuThrValSerAlaGlnSer                                  TCTGCAATGGGCGCTCGAGCGTCCCTGACCGTGTCGGCTCAGTCC                                      .         .      1600         .         .                                  ArgThrLeuLeuAlaGlyIleValGlnGlnGlnGlnGlnLeuLeu                                  CGGACTTTACTGGCCGGGATAGTGCAGCAACAGCAACAGCTGTTG                                           .         .         .         .                                       AspValValLysArgGlnGlnGluLeuLeuArgLeuThrValTrp                                  GACGTGGTCAAGAGACAACAAGAACTGTTGCGACTGACCGTCTGG                                      .         .         .      1700         .                                  GlyThrLysAsnLeuGlnAlaArgValThrAlaIleGluLysTyr                                  GGAACGAAAAACCTCCAGGCAAGAGTCACTGCTATAGAGAAGTAG                                           .         .         .         .                                       LeuGluAspGlnAlaArgLeuAsnSerTrpGlyCysAlaPheArg                                  CTACAGGACCAGGCGCGGCTAAATTCATGGGGATGTGCGTTTAGA                                      .         .         .         .      1800                                  GlnValCysHisThrThrValProTrpValAsnAspSerLeuAla                                  CAAGTCTGCCACACTACTGTACCATGGGTTAATGATTCCTTAGCA                                           .         .         .         .                                       ProAspTrpAspAsnMetThrTrpGlnGluTrpGluLysGlnVal                                  CCTGACTGGGACAATATGACGTGGCAGGAATCCCAAAAACAAGTC                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  ArgTyrLeuGluAlaAsnIleSerLysSerLeuGluGlnAlaGln                                  CGCTACCTGGAGGCAAATATCAGTAAAAGTTTAGAACAGGCACAA                                        1900         .         .         .                                       IleGlnGlnGluLysAsnMetTyrGluLeuGlnLysLeuAsnSer                                  ATTCAGCAAGAGAAAAATATGTATGAACTACAAAAATTAAATAGC                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  TrpAspIlePheGlyAsnTrpPheAspLeuThrSerTrpValLys                                  TGGGATATTTTTGGCAATTGGTTTGACTTAACCTCCTGGGTCAAG                                           .      2000         .         .                                       TyrIleGlnTyrGlyValLeuIleIleValAlaValIleALaLeu                                  TATATTCAATATGGAGTGCTTATAATAGTAGCAGTAATAGCTTTA                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  ArgIleValIleTyrValValGlnMetLeuSerArgLeuArgLys                                  AGAATAGTGATATATGTAGTACAAATGTTAAGTAGGCTTAGAAAG                                           .         .      2100         .                                       GlyTyrArgProValPheSerSerProProGlyTyrIleGln***                                  GGCTATAGGCCTGTTTTCTCTTCCCCCCCCGGTTATATCCAATAG                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  IleHisIleHisLysAspArgGlyGlnProAlaAsnGluGluThr                                  ATCCATATCCACAAGGACCGGGGACAGCCAGCCAACGAAGAAACA                                           .         .         .      2200                                       GluGluAspGlyGlySerAsnGlyGlyAspArgTyrTrpProTrp                                  CAAGAAGACGGTGGAAGCAACGGTGGAGACACATACTGGCCCTGG                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  ProIleAlaTyrIleHisPheLeuIleArgGlnLeuIleArgLeu                                  GCGATAGCATATATACATTTCCTGATCCGCCAGCTGATTCGCCTC                                           .         .         .         .                                       LeuThrArgLeuTyrSerIleCysArgAspLeuLeuSerArgSer                                  TTGACCAGACTATACAGCATCTGCAGGGACTTACTATCCAGGAGC                                   2300         .         .         .         .                                  PheLeuThrLeuGlnLeuIleTyrGlnAsnLeuArgAspTrpLeu                                  CTCCTGACCCTCCAACTCATCTACCAGAATCTCAGAGACTGGCTG                                           .         .         .         .                                       ArgLeuArgThrAlaPheLeuGluTyrGlyCysGluTrpIleGln                                  AGACTTAGAACAGCCTTCTTGCAATATGGGTGCGAGTGGATCCAA                                      .      2400         .         .         .                                  GluAlaPheGlnAlaAlaAlaArgAlaThrArgGluThrLeuAla                                  GAAGCATTCCAGGCCGCCGCGAGGGCTACAAGAGAGACTCTTGCG                                           .         .         .         .                                       GlyAlaCysArgGlyLeuTrpArgValLeuGluArgIleGlyArg                                  GGCGCGTGCAGGGGCTTGTGGAGGGTATTGGAACGAATCGGGAGG                                      .         .      2500         .         .                                  GlyIleLeuAlaValProArgArgIleArgGlnGlyAlaGluIle                                  CGAATACTCGCGGTTCCAAGAAGGATCAGACAGGGAGCAGAAATC                                           .         .         .         .                                       AlaLeuLeu***GlyThrAlaValSerAlaGlyArgLeuTyrGlu                                  GCCCTCCTGTGAGGGACGGCAGTATCAGCAGGGAGACTTTATGAA                                      .         .         .      2600         .                                  TyrSerMetGluGlyProSerSerArgLysGlyGluLysPheVal                                  TACTCCATGGAAGGACCCAGCAGCAGAAAGGGAGAAAAATTTGTA                                           .         .         .         .                                       GlnAlaThrLysTyrGly                                                             GAGGCAACAAAATATGGA                                                                 .         .                                                                 -  - Gag sequence                                                              -  - MetGlyAlaArgAsnSerValLeuArgGlyLysLysAlaAspGlu                            ATGGGCGCGAGAAACTCCGTCTTGAGAGGGAAAAAAGCAGATGAA                                           .         .         .         .                                       LeuGluArgIleArgLeuArgProGlyGlyLysLysLysTyrArg                                  TTAGAAAGAATCAGGTTACGGCCCGGCGGAAAGAAAAAGTACAGG                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  LeuLysHisIleValTrpAlaAlaAsnLysLeuAspArgPheGly                                  CTAAAACATATTGTGTGGGCAGCGAATAAATTGGACAGATTCGGA                                         100         .         .         .                                       LeuAlaGluSerLeuLeuGluSerLysGluGlyCysGluLysIle                                  TTAGCAGAGAGCCTGTTGGAGTCAAAAGAGGGTTGTCAAAAAATT                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  LeuThrValLeuAspProMetValProThrGlySerGluAsnLeu                                  CTTACAGTTTTAGATCCAATGGTACCGACAGGTTCAGAAAATTTA                                           .       200         .         .                                       LysSerLeuPheAsnThrValCysValIleTrpCysIleHisAla                                  AAAAGTCTTTTTAATACTGTCTGCGTCATTTGGTGCATACACGCA                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  GluGluLysValLysAspThrGluGlyAlaLysGlnIleValArg                                  GAAGAGAAAGTGAAAGATACTGAAGGAGCAAAACAAATAGTGCGG                                           .         .       300         .                                       ArgHisLeuValAlaGluThrGlyThrAlaGluLysMetProSer                                  AGACATCTAGTGGCAGAAACAGGAACTGCAGAGAAAATGCCAAGG                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  ThrSerArgProThrAlaProSerSerGluLysGlyGlyAsnTyr                                  ACAAGTAGACCAACAGCACCATCTAGCGAGAAGGGAGGAAATTAC                                           .         .         .       400                                       ProValGlnHisValGlyGlyAsnTyrThrHisIleProLeuSer                                  CCAGTGCAACATGTAGGCGGCAACTACACCCATATACCGCTGAGT                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  ProArgThrLeuAsnAlaTrpValLysLeuValGluGluLysLys                                  CCCCGAACCCTAAATGCCTGGGTAAAATTAGTAGAGGAAAAAAAG                                           .         .         .         .                                       PheGlyAlaGluValValProGlyPheGluAlaLeuSerGluGly                                  TTCGGGGCAGAAGTAGTGCCAGGATTTCAGGCACTCTCAGAAGGC                                    500         .         .         .         .                                  CysThrProTyrAspIleAsnGlnMetLeuAsnCysValGlyAsp                                  TGGACGCCCTATGATATCAACCAAATGCTTAATTGTGTGGGCGAC                                           .         .         .         .                                       HisGlnAlaAlaMetGlnIleIleArgGluIleIleAsnGluGlu                                  CATCAAGCAGCCATGCAGATAATCAGGGAGATTATCAATGAGGAA                                      .       600         .         .         .                                  AlaAlaGluTrpAspValGlnHisProIleProGlyProLeuPro                                  GCAGCAGAATGGGATGTGCAACATCCAATACCAGCCCCCTTAGCA                                           .         .         .         .                                       AlaGlyGlnLeuArgGluProArgGlySerAspIleAlaGlyThr                                  GCGGGGCAGCTTAGAGAGCCAAGGGGATCTGACATAGCAGGGACA                                      .         .       700         .         .                                  ThrSerThrValGluGluGlnIleGlnTrpMetPheArgProGln                                  ACAAGCACAGTAGAAGAACAGATCCAGTGGATGTTTAGGCCACAA                                           .         .         .         .                                       AsnProValProValGlyAsnIleTyrArgArgTrpIleGlnIle                                  AATCCTGTACCAGTAGGAAACATCTATAGAAGATGGATCCAGATA                                      .         .         .       800         .                                  GlyLeuGlnLysCysValArgMetTyrAsnProThrAsnIleLeu                                  GGATTGCAGAAGTGTGTCAGGATGTACAACCCGACCAACATCCTA                                           .         .         .         .                                       AspIleLysGlnGlyProLysGluProPheGlnSerTyrValAsp                                  GACATAAAACAGGGACCAAAGGAGCCGTTCCAAAGCTATGTAGAT                                      .         .         .         .       900                                  ArgPheTyrLysSerLeuArgAlaGluGlnThrAspProAlaVal                                  AGATTCTACAAAAGCTTGAGGGCAGAACAAACAGATCCAGCAGTG                                           .         .         .         .                                       LysAsnTrpMetThrGlnThrLeuLeuValGlnAsnAlaAsnPro                                  AAGAATTGGATGACCCAAACACTGCTAGTACAAAATGCCAACCCA                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  AspCysLysLeuValLeuLysGlyLeuGlyMetAsnProThrLeu                                  GACTGTAAATTAGTGCTAAAAGGACTAGGGATGAACCCTACCTTA                                      1000         .         .         .                                         GluGluMetLeuThrAlaCysGlnGlyValGlyGlyProGlyGln                                  GAAGAGATGCTGACCGCCTGTCAGGGGGTAGGTGGGCCAGGCCAG                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  LysAlaArgLeuMetAlaGluAlaLeuLysGluValIleGlyPro                                  AAAGCTAGATTAATGGCAGAGGCCCTGAAAGAGGTCATAGGACCT                                           .      1100         .         .                                       AlaProIleProPheAlaAlaAlaGlnGlnArgLysAlaPheLys                                  GCCCCTATCCCATTCGCAGCAGCCCAGCAGAGAAAGGCATTTAAA                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  CysTrpAsnCysGlyLysGluGlyHisSerAlaArgGlnCysArg                                  TGCTGGAACTGTGGAAAGGAAGGGCACTCGGCAAGACAATGCCGA                                           .         .      1200         .                                       AlaProArgArgGlnGlyCysTrpLysCysGlyLysProGlyHis                                  GCACCTAGAAGGCAGGGCTGCTGGAAGTGTGGTAAGCCAGGACAC                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  IleMetThrAsnCysProAspArgGlnAlaGlyPheLeuGlyLeu                                  ATCATGACAAACTGCCCAGATAGACAGGCAGGTTTTTTAGGACTG                                           .         .         .      1300                                       GlyProTrpGlyLysLysProArgAsnPheProValAlaGlnVal                                  GGCCCTTGGGGAAAGAAGCCCCGCAACTTCCCCGTGGCCCAAGTT                                      .         .         .         .         .                                  ProGlnGlyLeuThrProThrAlaProProValAspProAlaVal                                  CCGCAGGGGCTGACACCAACAGCACCCCCAGTGGATCCAGCAGTG                                           .         .         .         .                                       AspLeuLeuGluLysTyrMetGlnGlnGlyLysArgGlnArgGlu                                  GATCTACTGGAGAAATATATGCAGCAAGGGAAAAGACAGAGAGAG                                   1400         .         .         .         .                                  GlnArgGluArgProTyrLysGluValThrGluAspLeuLeuHis                                  CAGAGAGAGAGACCATACAAGGAAGTGACAGAGGACTTACTGCAC                                           .         .         .         .                                       LeuGluGlnGlyGluThrProTyrArgGlnProProThrGluAsp                                  CTCGAGCAGGGGGAGACACCATACAGGGAGCCACCAACAGAGGAC                                      .      1500         .         .         .                                  LeuLeuHisLeuAsnSerLeuPheGlyLysAspGln                                           TTGCTGCACCTCAATTCTCTCTTTGGAAAAGACCAG                                                    .         .         .                                           

Example 6: Peptide Sequences Encoded By The ENV and GAG genes

The following coding regions for antigenic peptides, identified for convenience only by the nucleotide numbers of Example 5, within the env and gag gene regions are of particular interest.

    envl (1732-1809)                                                                                     ArgValThrAlaIleGluLysTyr                                                       AGAGTCACTGCTATAGAGAAGTAC                                                               .         .                                       LeuGlnAspGlnAlaArgLeuAsnSerTrpGlyCysAlaPheArg                                  CTACAGGACCAGGCGCGGCTAAATTCATGGGGATGTGCGTTTAGA                                      .         .         .         .      1800                                  GlnValCys                                                                      CAAGTCTGC                                                                       - env2 (1912-1983)                                                                                 SerLysSerLeuGluGlnAlaGln                                                       AGTAAAAGTTTAGAACAGGCACAA                                                               .         .                                       IleGlnGlnGluLysAsnMetTyrGluLeuGlnLysLeuAsnSer                                  ATTCAGCAAGAGAAAAATATGTATGAACTACAAAAATTAAATAGC                                   1940         .         .         .         .                                  Trp                                                                            TGG                                                                             - env3 (1482-1530)                                                            Pro ThrLysGluLysArgTyrSerSerAlaHisGlyArgHisThrArg                              CCT ACAAAAGAAAAAAGATACTCCTCTGCTCACGGGAGACATACAAGA                                      .      1500         .         .         .                               - env4 (55-129)                                                                        CysThrGlnTyrValThrValPheTyrGlyValPro                                           TGCACCCAATATGTAACTGTTTTCTATGGCGTACCC                                                .         .         .         .                                  ThrTrpLysAsnAlaThrIleProLeuPheCysAlaThr                                        ACGTGGAAAAATGCAACCATTCCCCTGTTTTGTGCAACC                                               100         .         .                                                  - env5 (175-231)                                                                                                     AspAsp                                                                         GATGAT                                                                              .                                  TyrGlnGlnIleThrLeuAsnValThrGluAlaPheAspAlaTrp                                  TATCAGGAAATAACTTTGAATGTAACAGAGGCTTTTGATGCATGG                                           .       200         .         .                                       AsnAsn                                                                         AATAAT                                                                          - env6 (274-330)                                                                 GluThrSerIleLysProCysValLysLeuThrProLeuCys                                     GAGACATCAATAAAACCATGTGTGAAACTAACACCTTTATGT                                           .         .       300         .                                       ValAlaMetLysCys                                                                GTAGCAATGAAATGC                                                                    .         .                                                                 - env7 (607-660)                                                                                   AsnHisCysAsnThrSerValIle                                                       AACCATTGCAACACATCAGTCATC                                                        610         .         .                                  ThrGluSerCysAspLysHisTyrTrpAsp                                                 ACAGAATCATGTGACAAGCACTATTGGGAT                                                          .         .         .                                                  - env8 (661-720)                                                                                            AlaIleArgPheArg                                                                GCTATAAGGTTTAGA                                                                         .                                       TyrCysAlaProProGlyTyrAlaLeuLeuArgCysAsnAspThr                                  TACTGTGCACCACCGGGTTATGCCCTATTAAGATGTAATGATACC                                      .         .       700         .         .                                   - env9 (997-1044)                                                                   LysArgProArgGlnAlaTrpCysTrpPheLysGlyLys                                        AAAAGACCCAGACAAGCATGGTGCTGGTTCAAAGGCAAA                                        1000         .         .         .                                       TrpLysAsp                                                                      TGGAAAGAC                                                                       - env10 (1132-1215)                                                                 LysGlySerAspProGluValAlaTyrMetTrpThrAsn                                        AAAGGCTCAGACCCAGAAGTAGCATACATGTGGACTAAC                                                .         .         .         .                                  CysArgGlyGluPheLeuTyrCysAsnMetThrTrpPheLeuAsn                                  TGCAGAGGAGAGTTTCTCTACTGCAACATGACTTGGTTCCTCAAT                                           .         .      1200         .                                        - env11 (1237-1305)                                                                                ArgAsnTyrAlaProCysHisIle                                                       CGCAATTATGCACCGTGCCATATA                                                          .         .         .                                  LysGlnIleIleAsnThrTrpHisLysValGlyArgAsnValTyr                                  AAGCAAATAATTAACACATGGCATAAGGTAGGGAGAAATGTATAT                                           .         .         .      1300                                        - gagl (991-1053)                                                             AspCysLysLeuValLeuLysGlyLeuGlyMetAsnProThrLeu                                  GACTGTAAATTAGTGCTAAAAGGACTAGGGATGAACCCTACCTTA                                        1000         .         .         .                                       GluGluMetLeuThrAla                                                             GAAGAGATGCTGACCGCC                                                                 .         .                                                          

Of the foregoing peptides, env1, env2, env3 and gag1 are particularly contemplated for diagnostic purposes, and env4, env5, env6, env7, env8, env9, env10 and env11 are particularly contemplated as protecting agents. These peptides have been selected in part because of their sequence homology to certain of the envelope and gag protein products of other of the retroviruses in the HIV group. For vaccinating purposes, the fore going peptides may be coupled to a carrier protein by utilizing suitable and well known techniques to enhance the host's immune response. Adjuvants such as calcium phosphate or alum hydroxide may also be added. The foregoing peptides can be synthesized by conventional protein synthesis techniques, such as that of Merrifield.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the processes and products of the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present application cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. For convenience in interpreting the following claims, the following table sets forth the correspondence between codon codes and amino acids and the correspondence between three-letter and one-letter amino acid symbols.

    __________________________________________________________________________          DNA CODON  AMINO ACID 3 LET.                                                                          AMINO                                                                               ACID                                                                             1                                                                               LET.                                       __________________________________________________________________________        \2  T   C   A   G  T   C   A   G T C A G                             - 1 3\                                                               -  T TTT TCT TAT TGT PHE SER TYR CYS F S Y C                                   - T C TTC TCC TAC TGC PHE SER TYR CYS F S Y C                                  -  A TTA TCA TAA TGA LEU SER *** *** L S * *                                   -  G TTG TCG TAG TGG LEU SER *** TRP L S * W                                   -  T CTT CCT CAT CGT LEU PRO HIS ARG L P H R                                   - C C CTC CCC CAC CGC LEU PRO HIS ARG L P H R                                  -  A CTA CCA CAA CGA LEU PRO GLN ARG L P Q R                                   -  G CTG CCG CAG CGG LEU PRO GLN ARG L P Q R                                   -  T ATT ACT AAT AGT ILE THR ASN SER I T N S                                   - A C ATC ACC AAC AGC ILE THR ASN SER I T N S                                  -  A ATA ACA AAA AGA ILE THR LYS ARG I T K R                                   -  G ATG ACG AAG AGG MET THR LYS ARG M T K R                                   -  T GTT GCT GAT GGT VAL ALA ASP GLY V A D G                                   - G C GTC GCC GAC GGC VAL ALA ASP GLY V A D G                                  -  A GTA GCA GAA GGA VAL ALA GLU GLY V A E G                                   -  G GTG GCG GAG GGG VAL ALA GLU GLY V A E G                                __________________________________________________________________________        -                                                                           3 Letter     1 Letter CODONS                                                   __________________________________________________________________________        - ALA A GCT GCC GCA GCG                                                        - ARG R CGT CGC CGA CGG AGA AGG                                                - ASN N AAT AAC                                                                - ASP D GAT GAC                                                                - CYS C TGT TCC                                                                - GLN Q CAA CAG                                                                - GLU E GAA GAG                                                                - GLY G GGT GGC GGA GGG                                                        - HIS H CAT CAC                                                                - ILE I ATT ATC ATA                                                            - LEU L CTT CTC CTA CTG TTA TTG                                                - LYS K AAA AAG                                                                - MET M ATG                                                                    - PHE F TTT TTC                                                                - PRO P CCT CCC CCA CCG                                                        - SER S TCT TCC TCA TCG AGT AGC                                                - THR T ACT ACC ACA ACG                                                        - TRP H TGG                                                                    - TYR Y TAT TAC                                                                - VAL V GTT GTC GTA GTG                                                        - *** * TAA TAG TGA                                                         __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for determining the effectiveness of an agent for inhibiting a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 (HIV-2) from binding to a target cell, said method comprising:contacting said cell with said agent to be tested in the presence and in the absence of a labeled peptide having immunological properties of a first portion of the envelope glycoprotein of an HIV-2 virus, wherein said peptide comprises no more than about 40 amino acid residues, said first portion of the envelope glycoprotein is antigenic or is capable of eliciting the production of antibodies directed to the peptide, and said envelope glycoprotein comprises an amino acid sequence as follows:

    MetMetAsnGlnLeuLeuIleAlaIleLeuLeuAlaSerAlaCys                                     -                             10                                               - LeuValTyrCysThrGlnTyrValThrValPheTyrGlyValPro                                -              20                            30                                - ThrTrpLysAsnAlaThrIleProLeuPheCysAlaThrArgAsn                                -                             40                                               - ArgAspThrTrpGlyThrIleGlnCysLeuProAspAsnAspAsp                                -              50                            60                                - TryGlnGluIleThrLeuAsnValThrGluAlaPheAspAlaTrp                                -                             70                                               - AsnAsnThrValThrGluGlnAlaIleGluAspValTrpHisLeu                                -              80                            90                                - PheGluThrSerIleLysProCysValLysLeuThrProLeuCys                                -                            100                                               - ValAlaMetLysCysSerSerThrGluSerSerThrGlyAsnAsn                                -             110                           120                                - ThrThrSerLysSerThrSerThrThrThrThrThrProThrAsp                                -                            130                                               - GlnGluGlnGluIleSerGluAspThrProCysAlaArgAlaAsp                                -             140                           150                                - AsnCysSerGlyLeuGlyGluGluGluThrIleAsnCysGlnPhe                                -                            160                                               - AsnMetThrGlyLeuGluArgAspLysLysLysGlnTyrAsnGlu                                -             170                           180                                - ThrTrpTyrSerLysAspValValCysGluThrAsnAsnSerThr                                -                            190                                               - AsnGlnThrGlnCysTyrMetAsnHisCysAsnThrSerValIle                                -             200                           210                                - ThrGluSerCysAspLysHisTyrTrpAspAlaIleArgPheArg                                -                            220                                               - TyrCysAlaProProGlyTyrAlaLeuLeuArgCysAsnAspThr                                -             230                           240                                - AsnTyrSerGlyPheAlaProAsnCysSerLysValValAlaSer                                -                            250                                               - ThrCysThrArgMetMetGluThrGlnThrSerThrTrpPheGly                                -             260                           270                                - PheAsnGlyThrArgAlaGluAsnArgThrTyrIleTyrTrpHis                                -                            280                                               - GlyArgAspAsnArgThrIleIleSerLeuAsnLysTryTyrAsn                                -             290                           300                                - LeuSerLeuHisCysLysArgProGlyAsnLysThrValLysGln                                -                            310                                               - IleMetLeuMetSerGlyHisValPheHisSerHisTyrGlnPro                                -             320                           340                                - IleAsnLysArgProArgGlnAlaTrpCysTrpPheLysGlyLys                                -                            350                                               - TrpLysAspAlaMetGlnGluValLysThrLeuAlaLysHisPro                                -             360                           370                                - ArgTyrArgGlyThrAsnAspThrArgAsnIleSerPheAlaAla                                -                            380                                               - ProGlyLysGlySerAspProGluValAlaTyrMetTrpThrAsn                                -             390                           400                                - CysArgGlyGluPheLeuTyrCysAsnMetThrTrpPheLeuAsn                                -                            410                                               - TrpIleGluAsnLysThrHisArgAsnTyrAlaProCysHisIle                                -             420                           430                                - LysGlnIleIleAsnThrTrpHisLysValGlyArgAsnValTyr                                -                            440                                               - LeuProProArgGluGlyGluLeuSerCysAsnSerThrValThr                                -             450                           460                                - SerIleIleAlaAsnIleAspTrpGlnAsnAsnAsnGlnThrAsn                                -                            470                                               - IleThrPheSerAlaGluValAlaGluLeuTyrArgLeuGluLeu                                -             480                           490                                - GlyAspTyrLysLeuValGluIleThrProIleGlyPheAlaPro                                -                            500                                               - ThrLysGluLysArgTyrSerSerAlaHisGlyArgHisThrArg                                -             510                           520                                - GlyValPheValLeuGlyPheLeuGlyPheLeuAlaThrAlaGly                                -                            530                                               - SerAlaMetGlyAlaArgAlaSerLeuThrValSerAlaGlnSer                                -             540                           550                                - ArgThrLeuLeuAlaGlyIleValGlnGlnGlnGlnGlnLeuLeu                                -                            560                                               - AspValValLysArgGlnGlnGluLeuLeuArgLeuThrValTrp                                -             570                           580                                - GlyThrLysAsnLeuGlnAlaArgValThrAlaIleGluLysTyr                                -                            590                                               - LeuGluAspGlnAlaArgLeuAsnSerTrpGlyCysAlaPheArg                                -             600                           610                                - GlnValCysHisThrThrValProTrpValAsnAspSerLeuAla                                -                            620                                               - ProAspTrpAspAsnMetThrTrpGlnGluTrpGluLysGlnVal                                -             630                           640                                - ArgTyrLeuGluAlaAsnIleSerLysSerLeuGluGluAlaGln                                -                            650                                               - IleGlnGlnGluLysAsnMetTyrGluLeuGlnLysLeuAsnSer                                -             660                           670                                - TrpAspIlePheGlyAsnTrpPheAspLeuThrSerTrpValLys                                -                            680                                               - TyrIleGlnTyrGlyValLeuIleIleValAlaValIleAlaLeu                                -             690                           700                                - ArgIleValIleTyrValValGlnMetLeuSerArgLeuArgLys                                -                            710                                               - GlyTyrArgProValPheSerSerProProGlyTyrIleGln***                                -             720                           730                                - IleHisIleHisLysAspArgGlyGlnProAlaAsnGluGluThr                                -                            740                                               - GluGluAspGlyGlySerAsnGlyGlyAspArgTyrTrpProTrp                                -             750                           760                                - ProIleAlaTyrIleHisPheLeuIleArgGlnLeuIleArgLeu                                -                            770                                               - LeuThrArgLeuTyrSerIleCysArgAspLeuLeuSerArgSer                                -             780                           790                                - PheLeuThrLeuGlnLeuIleTyrGlnAsnLeuArgAspTrpLeu                                -                            800                                               - ArgLeuArgThrAlaPheLeuGlnTyrGlyCysGluTrpIleGln                                -             810                           820                                - GluAlaPheGlnAlaAlaAlaArgAlaThrArgGluThrLeuAla                                -                            830                                               - GlyAlaCysArgGlyLeuTrpArgValLeuGluArgIleGlyArg                                -             840                           850                                - GlyIleLeuAlaValProArgArgIleArgGlnGlyAlaGluIle                                -                            850                                               - AlaLeuLeu***GlyThrAlaValSerAlaGlyArgLeuTyrGlu                                -             860                           870                                - TyrSerMetGluGlyProSerSerArgLysGlyGluLysPheVal                                -                            880                                               - GlnAlaThrLysTyrGly;                                                          -             890                                                      

determining the amount of labeled peptide bound in the presence of said agent; determining the amount of labeled peptide bound in the absence of said agent; and determining the relative amount of labeled peptide-cell binding in the presence of said agent compared to the amount of labeled peptide-cell binding in the absence of said agent; wherein an agent having a low affinity for binding to the cell is evidenced by little or no change between the binding values of the labeled peptide in the presence and in the absence of the agent, and an agent having a high affinity for binding to the cell is evidenced by a lower binding value in the presence of the agent in comparison to the binding value in the absence of the agent.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said enveloped glycoprotein is labeled with an immunoassay label selected from the group consisting of enzymes, radioactive isotopes, fluorescent labels, and chromophores.
 3. A method for determining the effectiveness of an agent for inhibiting a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 (HIV-2) from binding to a target cell, said method comprising:contacting said cell with said agent to be tested in the presence of in the absence of one or more labeled peptides selected from the group consisting of:(1) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:XR--A-E-YL-DQ--L--WGC-----CZ, or XA-E-YL-DZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of either of the following peptide sequences:RVTAIEKYLQDQARLNSWGCAFRQVC, or AIEKYLQDQ; (2) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X----E--Q-QQEKN--EL--L---Z, or XQ-QQEKNZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of either of the following peptide sequences: SKSLEQAQIQQEKNMYELQKLNSW, or QIQQEKN; (3) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:XEL--YK-V-I-P-G-APTK-KR-----Z, or XYK-V-I-P-G-APTK-KRZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of either of the following peptide sequences: ELGDYKLVEITPIGFAPTKEKRYSSAH, or YKLVEITPIGFAPTKEK; (4) the antigenic peptide gagl comprising an amino acid sequence of the following formula:XNCKLVLKGLGMNPTLEEMLTAZ, wherein X and Z or OH or NH2, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of the following peptide sequence: XNCKLVLKGLGMNPTLEEMLTA; (5) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X----VTV-YGVP-WK-AT--LFCA-Z, or XVTV-YGVP-WK-ATZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of either of the following peptide sequences: CTQYVTVFYGVPTWKNATIPLFCAT, or VTVFYGVPTWKNAT; (6) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X-G-DPE------NC-GEF-YCN-----NZ, or XNC-GEF-YCNZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of either of the following peptide sequences: KGSDPEVAYMWTNCRGEFLYCNMTWFLN, or NCRGEFLYCN; (7) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X-----C-IKQ-I------G---YZ, or XC-IKQ-IZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of either of the following peptide sequences: RNYAPCHIKQIINTWHKVGRNVY, or CHIKQII; (8) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X---QE--LNVTE-F--W-NZ, or XLNVTE-FZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of the following peptide sequence: DDYQEITLNVTEAFDAWNN; (9) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:XL---S-KPCVKLTPLCV--KZ, or XKPCVKLTPLCVZ, or XS-KPCVKLTPLCVZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of the following peptide sequence: ETSIKPCVKLTPLCVAMK; (10) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X---N-S-IT--C-Z, or XN-S-ITZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of the following peptide sequence: NHCNTSVITESCD; (11) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence having the following formula:XYC-P-G-A-L-CN-TZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of the following peptide sequence: YCAPPGYALLRCNDT; and (12) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X------A-C-----W--Z, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of the following peptide sequence: NKRPRQAWCWFKGKWKD; wherein said immunological properties comprise the ability of said peptide sequences to specifically recognize antibodies against HIV-2; determining the amount of labeled peptide bound in the presence of said agent; determining the amount of labeled peptide bound in the absence of said agent; and determining the relative amount of labeled peptide-cell binding in the presence of said agent compared to the amount of labeled peptide-cell binding in the absence of said agent; wherein an agent having a low affinity for binding to the cell is evidenced by little or no change between the binding values of the labeled peptide in the presence and in the absence of the agent, and an agent having a high affinity for binding to the cell is evidenced by a lower binding value in the presence of the agent in comparison to the binding value in the agent in comparison to the binding value in the absence of the agent.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said one or more peptides are labeled with an immunoassay label selected from the group consisting of enzymes, radioactive isotopes, fluorescent labels, and chromophores.
 5. A kit for determining the effectiveness of an agent for inhibiting a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 (HIV-2) from binding to a target cell, said kit comprising:a labeled peptide having immunological properties of a first portion of the envelope glycoprotein of a HIV-2 virus, wherein said peptide comprises no more than about 40 amino acid residues, said first portion of the envelope glycoprotein is antigenic or is capable of eliciting the production of antibodies directed to the peptide, and said envelope glycoprotein comprises an amino acid sequence as follows:

    MetMetAsnGlnLeuLeuIleAlaIleLeuLeuAlaSerAlaCys                                                                10                                                  - LeuValTyrCysThrGlnTyrValThrValPheTyrGlyValPro                                            20                            30                                   - ThrTrpLysAsnAlaThrIleProLeuPheCysAlaThrArgAsn                                                           40                                                  - ArgAspThrTrpGlyThrIleGlnCysLeuProAspAsnAspAsp                                            50                            60                                   - TryGlnGluIleThrLeuAsnValThrGluAlaPheAspAlaTrp                                                           70                                                  - AsnAsnThrValThrGluGlnAlaIleGluAspValTrpHisLeu                                            80                            90                                   - PheGluThrSerIleLysProCysValLysLeuThrProLeuCys                                                          100                                                  - ValAlaMetLysCysSerSerThrGluSerSerThrGlyAsnAsn                                           110                           120                                   - ThrThrSerLysSerThrSerThrThrThrThrThrProThrAsp                                                          130                                                  - GlnGluGlnGluIleSerGluAspThrProCysAlaArgAlaAsp                                           140                           150                                   - AsnCysSerGlyLeuGlyGluGluGluThrIleAsnCysGlnPhe                                                          160                                                  - AsnMetThrGlyLeuGluArgAspLysLysLysGlnTyrAsnGlu                                           170                           180                                   - ThrTrpTyrSerLysAspValValCysGluThrAsnAsnSerThr                                                          190                                                  - AsnGlnThrGlnCysTyrMetAsnHisCysAsnThrSerValIle                                           200                           210                                   - ThrGluSerCysAspLysHisTyrTrpAspAlaIleArgPheArg                                                          220                                                  - TyrCysAlaProProGlyTyrAlaLeuLeuArgCysAsnAspThr                                           230                           240                                   - AsnTyrSerGlyPheAlaProAsnCysSerLysValValAlaSer                                                          250                                                  - ThrCysThrArgMetMetGluThrGlnThrSerThrTrpPheGly                                           260                           270                                   - PheAsnGlyThrArgAlaGluAsnArgThrTyrIleTyrTrpHis                                                          280                                                  - GlyArgAspAsnArgThrIleIleSerLeuAsnLysTryTyrAsn                                           290                           300                                   - LeuSerLeuHisCysLysArgProGlyAsnLysThrValLysGln                                                          310                                                  - IleMetLeuMetSerGlyHisValPheHisSerHisTyrGlnPro                                           320                           340                                   - IleAsnLysArgProArgGlnAlaTrpCysTrpPheLysGlyLys                                                          350                                                  - TrpLysAspAlaMetGlnGluValLysThrLeuAlaLysHisPro                                           360                           370                                   - ArgTyrArgGlyThrAsnAspThrArgAsnIleSerPheAlaAla                                                          380                                                  - ProGlyLysGlySerAspProGluValAlaTyrMetTrpThrAsn                                           390                           400                                   - CysArgGlyGluPheLeuTyrCysAsnMetThrTrpPheLeuAsn                                                          410                                                  - TrpIleGluAsnLysThrHisArgAsnTyrAlaProCysHisIle                                           420                           430                                   - LysGlnIleIleAsnThrTrpHisLysValGlyArgAsnValTyr                                                          440                                                  - LeuProProArgGluGlyGluLeuSerCysAsnSerThrValThr                                           450                           460                                   - SerIleIleAlaAsnIleAspTrpGlnAsnAsnAsnGlnThrAsn                                                          470                                                  - IleThrPheSerAlaGluValAlaGluLeuTyrArgLeuGluLeu                                           480                           490                                   - GlyAspTyrLysLeuValGluIleThrProIleGlyPheAlaPro                                                          500                                                  - ThrLysGluLysArgTyrSerSerAlaHisGlyArgHisThrArg                                           510                           520                                   - GlyValPheValLeuGlyPheLeuGlyPheLeuAlaThrAlaGly                                                          530                                                  - SerAlaMetGlyAlaArgAlaSerLeuThrValSerAlaGlnSer                                           540                           550                                   - ArgThrLeuLeuAlaGlyIleValGlnGlnGlnGlnGlnLeuLeu                                                          560                                                  - AspValValLysArgGlnGlnGluLeuLeuArgLeuThrValTrp                                           570                           580                                   - GlyThrLysAsnLeuGlnAlaArgValThrAlaIleGluLysTyr                                                          590                                                  - LeuGluAspGlnAlaArgLeuAsnSerTrpGlyCysAlaPheArg                                           600                           610                                   - GlnValCysHisThrThrValProTrpValAsnAspSerLeuAla                                                          620                                                  - ProAspTrpAspAsnMetThrTrpGlnGluTrpGluLysGlnVal                                           630                           640                                   - ArgTyrLeuGluAlaAsnIleSerLysSerLeuGluGluAlaGln                                                          650                                                  - IleGlnGlnGluLysAsnMetTyrGluLeuGlnLysLeuAsnSer                                           660                           670                                   - TrpAspIlePheGlyAsnTrpPheAspLeuThrSerTrpValLys                                                          680                                                  - TyrIleGlnTyrGlyValLeuIleIleValAlaValIleAlaLeu                                           690                           700                                   - ArgIleValIleTyrValValGlnMetLeuSerArgLeuArgLys                                                          710                                                  - GlyTyrArgProValPheSerSerProProGlyTyrIleGln***                                           720                           730                                   - IleHisIleHisLysAspArgGlyGlnProAlaAsnGluGluThr                                                          740                                                  - GluGluAspGlyGlySerAsnGlyGlyAspArgTyrTrpProTrp                                           750                           760                                   - ProIleAlaTyrIleHisPheLeuIleArgGlnLeuIleArgLeu                                                          770                                                  - LeuThrArgLeuTyrSerIleCysArgAspLeuLeuSerArgSer                                           780                           790                                   - PheLeuThrLeuGlnLeuIleTyrGlnAsnLeuArgAspTrpLeu                                                          800                                                  - ArgLeuArgThrAlaPheLeuGlnTyrGlyCysGluTrpIleGln                                           810                           820                                   - GluAlaPheGlnAlaAlaAlaArgAlaThrArgGluThrLeuAla                                                          830                                                  - GlyAlaCysArgGlyLeuTrpArgValLeuGluArgIleGlyArg                                           840                           850                                   - GlyIleLeuAlaValProArgArgIleArgGlnGlyAlaGluIle                                                          850                                                  - AlaLeuLeu***GlyThrAlaValSerAlaGlyArgLeuTyrGlu                                           860                           870                                   - TyrSerMetGluGlyProSerSerArgLysGlyGluLysPheVal                                                          880                                                  - GlnAlaThrLysTyrGly;                                                                     890                                                         

a composition comprising a target cell; and a control composition comprising said labeled peptide and said cell; wherein the relative affinity of the agent for binding to the cell is determined by comparing the amount of labeled peptide bound in the presence of the agent with the amount of labeled peptide bound in the absence of said agent.
 6. The kit of claim 5, wherein said enveloper glycoprotein is labeled with an immunoassay label selected from the group consisting of enzymes, radioactive isotopes, fluorescent labels, and chromophores.
 7. A kit for determining the effectiveness of an agent for inhibiting a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 (HIV-2) from binding to a target cell, said kit comprising:one or more labeled peptides selected from the group consisting of:(1) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:XR--A-E-YL-DQ--L--WGC-----CZ, or XA-E-YL-DZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of either of the following peptide sequences: RVTAIEKYLQDQARLNSWGCAFRQVC, or AIEKYLQDQ; (2) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X ----E--Q-QQEKN--EL--L---Z, or XQ-QQEKNZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of either of the following peptide sequences: SKSLEQAQIQQEKNMYELQKLNSW, or QIQQEKN; (3) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:XEL--YK-V-I-P-G-APTK-KR-----Z, or XYK-V-I-P-G-APTK-KRZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of either of the following peptide sequences: ELGDYKLVEITPIGFAPTKEKRYSSAH, or YKLVEITPIGFAPTKEK; (4) the antigenic peptide gagl comprising an amino acid sequence of the following formula:XNCKLVLKGLGMNPTLEEMLTAZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of the following peptide sequence: XNCKLVLKGLGMNPTLEEMLTA; (5) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X----VTV-YGVP-WK-AT--LFCA-Z, or XVTV-YGVP-WK-ATZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of either of the following peptide sequences: CTQYVTVFYGVPTWKNATIPLFCAT, or VTVFYGVPTWKNAT; (6) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X-G-DPE------NC-GEF-YCN-----NZ, or XNC-GEF-YCNZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of either of the following peptide sequences: KGSDPEVAYMWTNCRGEFLYCNMTWFLN, or NCRGEFLYCN; (7) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X-----C-IKQ-I------G---YZ, or XC-IKQ-IZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of either of the following peptide sequences: RNYAPCHIKQIINTWHKVGRNVY, or CHIKQII; (8) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X---QE--LNVTE-F--W-NZ, or XLNVTE-FZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of the following peptide sequence: DDYQEITLNVTEAFDAWNN; (9) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:XL---S-KPCVKLTPLCV--KZ, or XKPCVKLTPLCVZ, or XS-KPCVKLTPLCVZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of the following peptide sequence: ETSIKPCVKLTPLCVAMK; (10) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X---N-S-IT--C-Z, or XN-S-ITZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of the following peptide sequence: NHCNTSVITESCD; (11) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence having the following formula:XYC-P-G-A-L-CN-TZ, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of the following peptide sequence: YCAPPGYALLRCNDT; and (12) a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of either of the following formulas:X------A-C-----W--Z, wherein X and Z are OH or NH₂, and wherein each of the hyphens corresponds to an aminoacyl residue selected from the group consisting of those which permit the conservation of the immunological properties of the following peptide sequence: NKRPRQAWCWFKGKWKD; wherein said immunological properties comprise the ability of said peptide sequences to specifically recognize antibodies against HIV-2; a composition comprising a target cell; and a control composition comprising said one or more labeled peptides and said cell; wherein the relative affinity of the agent for binding to the cell is determined by comparing the amount of labeled peptide bound in the presence of the agent with the amount of labeled peptide bound in the absence of said agent.
 8. The kit of claim 7, wherein said one or more peptide are labeled with an immunoassay label selected from the group consisting of enzymes, radioactive isotopes, fluorescent labels, and chromophores.
 9. A method for determining the effectiveness of an agent for inhibiting a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 (HIV-2) from binding to a target cell, said method comprising:contacting said cell with said agent to be tested in the presence and in the absence of one or more labeled polypeptide expression products of HIV-2 selected from the group consisting of p16, p26, p12, polymerase, Q protein, R protein, X protein, env protein, F protein, TAT, ART, U5, and U3; determining the amount of labeled polypeptide expression product bound in the presence of said agent; determining the amount of labeled polypeptide expression product bound in the absence of said agent; and determining the relative amount of labeled polypeptide expression product-cell binding in the presence of said agent compared to the amount of labeled polypeptide expression product-cell binding in the absence of said agent; wherein an agent having a low affinity for binding to the cell is evidenced by little or no change between the binding values of the labeled polypeptide expression product in the presence and in the absence of the agent, and an agent having a high affinity for binding to the cell is evidenced by a lower binding value in the presence of the agent in comparison to the binding value in the absence of the agent.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said env protein is labeled with an immunoassay label selected from the group consisting of enzymes, radioactive isotopes, fluorescent labels, and chromophores.
 11. A kit for determining the effectiveness of an agent for inhibiting a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 (HIV-2) from binding to a target cell, said kit comprising:one or more labeled polypeptide expression products of HIV-2 selected from the group consisting of p16, p26, p12, polymerase, Q protein, R protein, X protein, env protein, F protein, TAT, ART, U5, and U3; a composition comprising a target cell; and a control composition comprising said one or more labeled polypeptide expression products and said cell; wherein the relative affinity of the agent for binding to the cell is determined by comparing the amount of labeled polypeptide expression product bound in the presence of the agent with the amount of labeled polypeptide expression product bound in the absence of said agent.
 12. The kit of claim 11, wherein said env protein is labeled with an immunoassay label selected from the group consisting of enzymes, radioactive isotopes, fluorescent labels, and chromophores. 